Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) is a regulation set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom, which aims to ensure the safety of individuals who use lifting equipment in the workplace.

What is covered under LOLER regulations?

LOLER, also known as the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, is a collection of regulations developed in the United Kingdom by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to safeguard the safety of persons who use lifting or lowering equipment in the workplace. These requirements apply to a wide range of lifting and material handling equipment including MWEPS (mobile elevating work platforms), cranes, hoists, winches, and other types of lifting gear, as well as jacks, skates, slings, shackles, and hooks. They apply to both permanent and temporary equipment, as well as equipment utilised for short-term or long-term operations.

One of the primary criteria of LOLER is that all lifting equipment be properly examined by a professional person. This assures that the equipment is fit for purpose, safe to use, and in good working order. Furthermore, the requirements demand that all equipment be labelled with its safe working load and that complete examination records be preserved.

LOLER also demands competent individuals to plan and monitor lifting operations, as well as to utilise equipment safely and with proper controls to prevent accidents. It also demands that the equipment used for lifting people be of suitable strength, stability, and quality, and that it be particularly constructed for that purpose.

Overall, the goal of LOLER is to ensure the safety of individuals who use lifting equipment at work by ensuring that equipment is properly maintained, inspected, and used in accordance with regulations. The regulations also require that the equipment is positioned and used safely, to prevent accidents such as load striking a person and that the equipment is of adequate strength and carried out safely.

Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with LOLER?

Employers are responsible for ensuring that their employees are not put at risk by the use of lifting equipment and must therefore ensure that they comply with the requirements of LOLER. This includes conducting regular inspections, reporting defects, and providing adequate training for employees who use lifting equipment.

Employees are also responsible for using lifting equipment safely and reporting any defects they may find.

LOLER inspection and compliance in the workplace

Employers should be knowledgeable about the regulations of LOLER so that they can take action to adhere to them. To achieve this, employers may set up a system of regular inspections, train personnel, and ensure that any issues are reported and fixed quickly.

These steps will help employers minimise the danger of incidents and harm in the workplace and guarantee that workers can execute their duties securely and effectively.

Final Considerations

LOLER is an important regulation that aims to ensure the safety of individuals who use lifting equipment in the workplace. It applies to a wide range of equipment and accessories and requires that they are fit for purpose and in good working order. Employers have a responsibility to ensure compliance with LOLER, and employees also have a responsibility to use lifting equipment safely and report any defects they may find. By understanding and complying with the requirements of LOLER, employers can help to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace.

We at VIG are fully compliant with LOLER for all lifting operations we carry out for our clients. As part of this, we undertake out own inspections for all our lifting equipment, accessories and team members who are handling the lifting equipment. Additional, as part of our standard RAMS (Risk Assessments & Method Statements) we issue to clients, we include all the LOLER documentation so show our compliance when we carry out their machinery moves & factory relocations.