Finding the right LOLER inspection company is a legal obligation, not just a procurement decision. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, you are responsible as a duty holder for ensuring thorough examinations are carried out by a competent person at the required intervals. The choice of inspector is yours. So is the liability if that inspector is not genuinely competent. This guide covers what LOLER inspection companies actually do, how to find LOLER inspections near you, and what accreditations to look for before you sign a contract.
What Do LOLER Inspection Companies Do?
A LOLER inspection company provides thorough examination services carried out by a competent person. This is not the same as a visual check or a maintenance inspection. A thorough examination under Regulation 9 of LOLER 1998 is a systematic and detailed examination of the lifting equipment by a competent person, to determine whether it is safe to continue in service.
During a LOLER lift inspection, the competent person will:
- Check structural integrity — welds, load-bearing components, and fixings
- Test safety devices — limit switches, load indicators, emergency stops, brakes
- Verify safe working load (SWL) markings are present and legible
- Inspect for wear, corrosion, deformation, and damage
- Test under load where required by the equipment type
- Record all findings on a Schedule 1 report under Regulation 10
At the end of the examination, the competent person issues a written report. If defects are found, they must be categorised and — for serious defects — notified to the relevant enforcing authority. LOLER inspection services also include lifting accessories: slings, chains, shackles, and spreader beams all require separate examination at 6-monthly intervals. Read the full details in our thorough examination guide.
How to Find LOLER Inspection Services Near You
When searching for LOLER testing near you or LOLER inspections near me, geography matters less than accreditation. A competent LEEA-accredited examiner 30 miles away is a better choice than an unaccredited engineer on your doorstep.
Three reliable ways to find LOLER inspection companies near you:
For niche or specialised equipment — port cranes, specialist hoists, medical lifting equipment — equipment manufacturers often have approved inspection networks. A call to the manufacturer's service team will usually produce a list of competent examiners with type-specific training.
What Accreditations Should a LOLER Inspector Have?
No single accreditation is legally mandated under LOLER. But industry-recognised accreditations are the clearest signal that an inspection company has met an objective competence standard.
How Often Do LOLER Inspections Need to Be Carried Out?
The frequency of thorough examinations depends on the equipment type and how it is used. The two standard intervals under LOLER Regulation 9 are:
- Every 6 months — lifting accessories (slings, chains, hooks, shackles) and any equipment used to lift people
- Every 12 months — all other lifting equipment
A competent person can recommend a different interval based on an examination scheme, but this must be set out in writing and justify the deviation from the standard intervals. See our thorough examination guide for a full breakdown by equipment type.
LOLER Inspection Costs: What to Budget
LOLER inspection services are priced per examination, with rates varying by equipment type, volume, and geography. Typical indicative ranges:
| Equipment type | Typical cost per examination |
|---|---|
| Overhead travelling crane | £150 to £350 |
| Forklift truck | £100 to £200 |
| MEWP / scissor lift | £100 to £250 |
| Passenger lift | £150 to £400 |
| Chain hoist / electric hoist | £60 to £150 |
| Slings, chains and shackles | £10 to £30 per item |
Volume contracts reduce per-item rates significantly. A site with 100 slings examined in a single visit will pay far less per item than 100 slings examined across multiple callouts. See the full breakdown in our LOLER inspection cost guide.
The Gap Most Duty Holders Miss: Managing What Your Inspector Finds
A good LOLER inspection company handles the examination. But you still need to manage what comes next. Certificates expire. Due dates arrive. Defect repairs need tracking. Records need storing somewhere auditable.
Most duty holders use a spreadsheet. That works until you have more than a handful of assets, more than one site, or an HSE inspector on the doorstep asking for three years of examination records at short notice.
Lolerflow gives you a central asset register, automated renewal reminders, and a permanent store of all your examination reports. Your inspection company does the examination. Lolerflow makes sure you never miss a due date and always have your records ready. See how LOLER inspection software fits alongside your existing inspection provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right LOLER inspection company is the first step. Keeping track of what they find, when they are due back, and where your certificates are is the second step — and the one that most duty holders underestimate. Read our LOLER compliance guide for the full duty holder picture.