HSE is Reviewing LOLER for the First Time Since 1998 — What It Means for Your Business

In October 2025, the Health and Safety Executive launched a formal Call for Evidence to review the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). The Call for Evidence closed on 11 November 2025. An outcome is expected sometime in 2026. This is the first formal review of LOLER since it came into force — and it matters for every lifting equipment inspection business in the UK.

Why HSE is Reviewing LOLER Now

LOLER was drafted in 1998 — a year when smartphones did not exist, cloud storage was a concept in academic papers, and the idea of completing an inspection record on a mobile device was entirely science fiction. The regulation was written around a paper-based world. That world no longer exists.

Technology has fundamentally changed how inspections are conducted. Digital records, mobile workflows, cloud storage, real-time reporting — these are now standard tools across professional services. But LOLER makes no mention of them. There is no explicit framework in the regulation for digital records, electronic signatures, or cloud-based audit trails.

HSE wants to assess whether the regulation remains "fit for purpose" in 2025 and beyond. Specific areas under formal review include: the definition of "competent person" and whether current guidance is clear enough; the frequency of thorough examinations and whether current intervals reflect modern equipment and risk profiles; documentation requirements and whether the current framework supports digital working; and the scope of equipment covered, which has not been updated since 1998 despite significant changes in the types of lifting equipment in use.

HSE is also examining whether LOLER creates regulatory burden that does not add proportionate safety value — an important signal that the review is not simply about tightening requirements. Some areas may be simplified or clarified, not just strengthened.

What's NOT Changing (Almost Certainly)

Before we consider what might change, it is worth being clear about what almost certainly will not — because uncertainty about a regulatory review can sometimes cause businesses to pause activity they should be continuing.

• The core duty to conduct thorough examinations. This is the foundation of LOLER and is not under review. All lifting equipment in scope must continue to be examined at the required intervals.
• Record-keeping requirements. The duty to document thorough examinations is staying. If anything, the review is likely to strengthen — not relax — the standards around documentation.
• The competent person requirement. Examinations must be carried out by a competent person. This is a core safety principle. It is not going away.
• Client responsibility. Duty-holders remain responsible for ensuring their lifting equipment is examined. That duty sits with the client, regardless of who conducts the examination.

Do not pause or defer compliance activity while waiting for the review outcome. Everything that is required today remains required today.

What Might Change

Based on the areas identified in the Call for Evidence, several meaningful changes are plausible — though nothing is confirmed until HSE publishes its outcome.

• Digital records may be formally recognised. Currently LOLER contains no explicit reference to digital documentation. If the review introduces formal recognition of electronic records, it will provide clarity that many inspection businesses have needed for years — and increase pressure on those still operating on paper.
• Examination frequencies may be updated. Current intervals were set in 1998. For certain categories of equipment, those intervals may be adjusted to reflect modern understanding of wear patterns, usage intensity, and risk.
• The definition of "competent person" may be clarified. This has been a grey area for decades. HSE may introduce clearer criteria — or formal accreditation requirements — for who can conduct thorough examinations.
• Scope may be extended. Equipment types that did not exist in 1998 — including certain electric vehicle charging lifts and newer material-handling systems — may be brought explicitly within scope.

What This Means for Inspection Companies

In the short term: nothing changes. Every current LOLER duty is fully in force. Any business waiting for the review outcome before investing in its compliance infrastructure is taking an unnecessary risk.

In the medium term, the picture shifts. If digital records are formally recognised — and the signals from the Call for Evidence suggest this is likely — businesses still operating on paper or spreadsheets will face increasing pressure to modernise. Not just from HSE, but from clients who increasingly understand what a credible compliance record looks like.

Businesses already using digital inspection platforms are well-positioned regardless of the outcome. If requirements tighten, they are already compliant. If standards are clarified, their existing documentation will meet them. There is no downside to being ahead of the curve here.

The direction of travel is clear. HSE is moving towards greater accountability, stronger audit trails, and a regulatory environment that reflects how professional services actually operate in 2026. Businesses that invest in their compliance infrastructure now are investing in their competitive position — not just their legal obligations.

How to Stay Ahead

• Monitor the HSE website. The outcome of the Call for Evidence will be published on hse.gov.uk. Sign up for HSE regulatory news updates to receive it when it lands.
• Review your current documentation process honestly. Ask yourself: if an HSE inspector arrived today, would your records be complete, correct, and instantly retrievable? If the answer is anything other than "yes", that is the gap to close — now, not after any regulatory change.
• Use this window to modernise. If you are still on paper or spreadsheets, the period between the Call for Evidence and the final outcome is the ideal time to transition. You choose the pace. You manage the migration. You avoid being forced into a rushed change by a regulatory deadline.

The LOLER review is a signal, not a threat. The businesses that will benefit most are those that take their compliance infrastructure seriously now — not after a fine.