HSE Enforcement6 min read

LOLER Risk Assessment — Step-by-Step Guide for UK Employers

How to carry out a LOLER risk assessment — identifying hazards, assessing risk levels, recording findings, and keeping the assessment current. With a worked example.

By Lolerflow Team |  LOLER Compliance Specialists

The 6-Step LOLER Risk Assessment

1
Identify the lifting equipment and its use
List the equipment, its SWL, the typical loads lifted, the frequency of use, and the environment in which it operates. A crane used outdoors in a coastal environment has a different risk profile than an identical crane in a clean indoor factory.
2
Identify the hazards
For each piece of equipment, identify what could go wrong: mechanical failure, load dropping, structural collapse, collision, people in the load path, falling from height (for MEWPs), overloading, environmental conditions (wind, ice, chemicals). Be specific — "load could fall" is less useful than "load could fall onto workers in the lay-down zone below the crane path."
3
Assess the likelihood and severity
For each hazard, assess: how likely is it to occur (rare / possible / likely)? If it occurs, how severe would the consequences be (minor injury / serious injury / fatality)? The combination of likelihood and severity gives the risk level. Focus your control measures on high-severity risks first, regardless of likelihood.
4
Identify existing controls
Record what controls are already in place: thorough examination programme, pre-use checks, operator training, exclusion zones, safe systems of work, lifting plans, SLI and overload protection. Assess whether these controls are adequate for the risk level identified.
5
Identify additional controls needed
Where existing controls are inadequate, identify what additional measures are required. Work through the hierarchy: eliminate the risk if possible, then substitute, engineer out, add administrative controls, and lastly PPE. Document the specific action, responsible person, and completion date.
6
Record, review, and update
Document the assessment in writing. Review at least annually, after any incident involving the equipment, when equipment or its use changes, and after thorough examinations that identify significant defects. A risk assessment that is never reviewed is worse than useless — it creates false confidence.

Worked Example — Overhead Crane in a Manufacturing Plant

HazardLikelihoodSeverityExisting controlsAction needed
Rope failure — load dropsLowFatal12-monthly exam, pre-use rope checkEnsure exam is current; rope discard criteria applied
Load swing — strikes workerMediumSeriousExclusion zone signageRefresh operator training; enforce exclusion zone
Overloading — structural failureLowFatalSWL marked, SLI fittedTest SLI quarterly; verify SWL not exceeded in procedure
Accessory failure (sling break)MediumFatalAnnual examImplement 6-monthly accessory exam; register all accessories
Hook block falling — maintenanceLowFatalNone currentIntroduce LOTO procedure for maintenance; toolbox talk

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Is a LOLER risk assessment a legal requirement?+
LOLER does not specifically require a "risk assessment" document — but it does require lifting operations to be properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent persons (Regulation 8). The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require a general risk assessment for all work activities, which covers lifting operations. In practice, a documented lifting risk assessment is expected for all but the most routine lifting operations.
What is the difference between a LOLER risk assessment and a lift plan?+
A risk assessment identifies the hazards and risks associated with lifting equipment and operations. A lift plan is a specific operational document for a particular lift — specifying the equipment to be used, the method, the supervision required, and safety precautions. For complex or high-risk lifts, both are required. For routine repetitive lifts (e.g. daily forklift operations), a generic risk assessment may suffice.
Do I need a separate LOLER risk assessment for each piece of equipment?+
Not necessarily — a single risk assessment can cover a category of equipment used in similar conditions. However, where equipment has different risk profiles (e.g. a man-riding crane vs a goods-only overhead crane), separate assessments are appropriate. Review and update assessments when equipment changes, when incidents occur, or at least annually.
→ HSE LOLER Audit Checklist→ LOLER Compliance Guide