Run through this checklist before any planned inspection — or quarterly as a self-audit. Every item marked ✗ is a potential improvement notice. Every item marked ✓ is a line of defence.
1Asset register
Complete inventory of all lifting equipment on site
All lifting accessories individually listed with unique identifiers
Equipment type recorded correctly (determines 6 vs 12-month interval)
SWL marked and legible on all equipment and accessories
Out-of-service equipment clearly identified and segregated
2Examination records
Schedule 1 report exists for every asset listed
All 12 Schedule 1 fields completed on every report
Examination date within the required interval (6 or 12 months)
Competent person's name and organisation recorded on every report
Next examination date stated on every report
3Defect management
All Cat A defects led to equipment removal from service
All Cat A defects were notified to HSE / local authority
All Cat B repair deadlines have been met or equipment removed from service
Evidence of repairs (invoices, engineer sign-off) retained
No equipment in use with an unresolved Cat A finding
4Examination scheme (if applicable)
Written scheme authored by a competent person
Scheme sets intervals no longer than statutory defaults
Scheme reviewed and updated when equipment changes
All examinations carried out in accordance with scheme intervals
5Operator competence
Evidence that operators received training for each equipment type
Pre-use check procedure in place and understood by operators
Training records retained and accessible
6Record accessibility
All records accessible in under 5 minutes (ideally instantly)
Clear location for all records — no searching through multiple systems
Records retrievable for any specific asset on demand
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Complete asset register, Schedule 1-compliant reports, defect tracking, instant record retrieval. Every item on this checklist covered. 30-day free trial.
Start free trial →What does HSE check in a LOLER audit?+
HSE inspectors check: that thorough examination reports exist for all lifting equipment, that reports contain all Schedule 1 fields, that examination intervals are within the legal limits (6 or 12 months), that any Cat A defects led to equipment removal from service and HSE notification, that Cat B defect repair deadlines were met, that records are accessible and legible, and that operators are competent.
How long do I need to keep LOLER records for an audit?+
Under Regulation 11, examination reports must be kept until the next report is produced (in-service equipment) or for 2 years (out-of-service equipment). In practice, keeping all records for the lifetime of the equipment is best practice — historical records are valuable in incident investigations and insurance claims.
What is the quickest thing I can do to improve LOLER audit readiness?+
Build a complete asset register and verify that every asset has a current examination report. This single step resolves the most common compliance gap HSE identifies. If you use digital inspection software, your asset register and reports are automatically linked and accessible in seconds.