Every crane at work is in scope. No exceptions.
If you operate cranes, you already know inspections are required. What catches companies out is the detail: which interval applies, who qualifies to carry the examination out, and what the written report must contain. Get any one of those wrong and a valid-looking certificate is still a compliance failure.
Regulation 2 of LOLER 1998 covers all lifting equipment used at work, including all attachments used for anchoring, fixing, or supporting it. Every crane falls within the LOLER thorough examination requirements, regardless of size, type, or safe working load. A small wall-mounted jib crane is as firmly in scope as a tower crane.
The duty holder is whoever has operational control of the crane. Hire companies, contractors, and site operators can all share overlapping duties. Not knowing which role you hold does not reduce your liability.
How often does each type of crane need to be examined?
| Crane type | Interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overhead / gantry crane | 12 months | Fixed installation. Runway rails and end stops are within examination scope. |
| Mobile crane | 12 months | Re-examination required after each new assembly on site. |
| Tower crane | 12 months | Re-examination required after each erection. Foundation and mast anchors are included. |
| Lorry-mounted crane (HIAB) | 12 months | Often used with lifting accessories. Accessories require separate 6-month examination. |
| Man-riding crane | 6 months | Any crane that lifts persons, regardless of primary use. |
| Jib crane (wall/floor-mounted) | 12 months | Small jib cranes are fully in scope. No minimum safe working load threshold applies. |
What does a crane thorough examination actually cover?
A crane examination goes well beyond a visual check. Every safety-critical system must be inspected and functionally tested. The HSE thorough examination guidance sets out the minimum scope. Key areas include:
Moving a crane to a new site resets the examination clock
A current 12-month certificate does not travel with the crane. Regulation 9(1)(b) requires a thorough examination each time a crane is assembled or installed in a new location where its safety depends on the installation conditions. This catches tower cranes, mobile cranes erected for a specific project, and rail-mounted gantry cranes moved to a new facility. The 12-month periodic examination clock restarts from the post-assembly examination date.
Tower cranes: what the previous certificate does not cover
A tower crane brought from another site with a valid certificate still needs a fresh examination on arrival. The erection process introduces new stresses, the risk of incorrect assembly, and installation-related defects that the previous certificate simply cannot cover. Certificate date means nothing if the machine has since been dismantled and rebuilt.
Tower crane examinations also cover items specific to this equipment type: climber and self-erecting mechanisms, slewing bearing condition with axial and radial play measured, tie anchors and ballast frames, and the anemometer. A non-functional or inaccurate anemometer is a reportable defect under LOLER.
Your crane certificate does not cover the slings
Cranes are almost always used with lifting accessories: chains, slings, shackles, hooks, and spreader beams. Accessories are examined separately from the crane at a shorter interval: every 6 months. A crane with a current 12-month certificate but overdue accessory examinations is still non-compliant. Both need to be in date.
After an incident, the crane stops until it is re-examined
Any crane involved in an incident must be thoroughly examined before returning to service, even if the routine 12-month examination is current.
A near-miss, an overload event, a collision, or any event that may have imposed abnormal loading: the crane comes out of service immediately. It must be thoroughly examined before returning to operation. This is a mandatory requirement, separate from the routine 12-month schedule. The current certificate means nothing after an incident.
The incident examination report must document the nature of the incident, the scope of examination, the condition found, any repairs made, and the examiner's confirmation that the crane is safe to use. This report becomes part of the crane's permanent examination history. The HSE will ask for it in any subsequent investigation.
Not just anyone can sign off a crane examination
The competent person must have sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the specific crane type being examined. For complex cranes such as tower cranes, the LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) provides accreditation schemes that help you identify qualified examiners. LEEA membership is not a legal requirement, but it is widely accepted as evidence of competence. You can find accredited members at leea.co.uk.
What the examination report must contain
Every thorough examination must produce a written report with the 11 items listed in Schedule 1 of LOLER. There is no prescribed form, but every field must be completed. The report must state whether the crane is safe for continued use, identify any defects found, and specify a date by which repairs must be completed. If a defect poses immediate danger, the examiner must notify you and the relevant enforcing authority without delay. Retaining these reports is the foundation of your LOLER audit trail.