What equipment is LOLER relevant to? The short answer: any lifting equipment or lifting accessory used at work to lift or lower a load — including people. LOLER 1998 defines lifting equipment as work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads, and its attachments. That definition is deliberately broad. It covers a wide range of LOLER lifting equipment, from a 500-tonne overhead crane to a single-leg sling used once a week in a small workshop. This guide sets out exactly what equipment is covered by LOLER 1998, what is excluded, and what examination requirements apply to each category.
What Lifting Equipment Is Covered by LOLER 1998?
Under LOLER 1998 (SI 1998/2307) ↗, all of the following fall within scope when used at work:
Forklift LOLER Requirements
Forklifts (FLTs) are among the most common LOLER equipment in UK workplaces. The forklift LOLER position is nuanced — and frequently misunderstood.
The forklift truck itself is subject to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998. But the lifting components — the mast, the forks, the carriage, and any attachment — are also subject to LOLER because they are used for lifting loads.
No contradiction. Both regulations apply at the same time. PUWER covers the truck as work equipment. LOLER covers the lifting function specifically.
- 12 months — standard counterbalance and reach forklifts used only to move loads
- 6 months — forklifts fitted with a man-riding cage or used to lift persons
- All attachments (side-shifts, rotators, clamps) must be included in the examination scope
LOLER Crane Inspection Requirements
LOLER crane inspection covers all types of cranes used at work. The scope of the thorough examination for a LOLER crane inspection includes:
- Structural integrity of the crane structure, girders, and end carriages
- Brakes — travel, hoist, and slew brakes must all be tested
- Limit switches — hoist upper and lower limits, travel limits
- Safe working load markings — present, legible, and accurate
- Wire rope or chain condition — wear, corrosion, broken wires, kinks
- Runway beam and rail condition where the crane is supported
Standard LOLER crane inspection intervals: 12 months for most overhead cranes; 6 months where the crane is used to lift persons. LOLER crane inspection must be carried out by a competent person with specific experience of crane examination — not a general LOLER inspector. See our dedicated HSE guidance on lifting equipment ↗ for the full regulatory context.
Scissor Lift LOLER Inspection
Scissor lifts are mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs). They lift people. That means scissor lift LOLER inspection is required every 6 months — without exception.
The scissor lift LOLER inspection covers the lifting mechanism, hydraulic system, safety interlocks, guardrails, overload protection, and all controls. The competent person must have specific experience of MEWP examination. IPAF Inspector qualification is the most widely recognised standard for scissor lift and MEWP examination.
Every scissor lift thorough examination must produce a written report under Schedule 1 of LOLER 1998. That report must be retained for the working life of the MEWP. No certificate, no legal use — it is that straightforward.
Do Stair Lifts Come Under LOLER?
Yes — if the stair lift is installed in a workplace and used to lift persons at work, LOLER applies. Stair lifts in care homes, offices, warehouses, and other workplace settings must be thoroughly examined every 6 months under Regulation 9.
Domestic stair lifts in private homes are not covered by LOLER — LOLER only applies to equipment provided at work. A stair lift in a private home falls outside the scope of the regulations entirely. But the same stair lift model installed in a care home is LOLER equipment from the moment of first use. The environment of use determines the applicable legislation, not the equipment type.
What Equipment Is NOT Covered by LOLER?
Not everything that moves a load is LOLER equipment. These categories fall outside scope:
LOLER and PPE Inspection: Where the Lines Overlap
The question of LOLER PPE inspection comes up regularly with harnesses, lanyards, and fall arrest systems. The position depends on how the equipment is used.
Standalone personal protective equipment — a harness used for fall arrest protection alone — is covered by PUWER and the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations. Not LOLER.
Where PPE forms part of a lifting system — for example, a rescue hoist lowering a casualty, a rope access system descending a worker, or a man-riding arrangement on a crane — LOLER applies to that system. The PPE is integral to the lifting operation and falls within scope. The LOLER ACOP (L113) gives further guidance on the boundary between LOLER and the PPE regulations.
LOLER and Manual Handling: Two Separate Regimes
LOLER manual handling confusion is common. The two regimes address different risks:
- LOLER covers mechanical lifting — equipment that raises or lowers a load
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 covers unaided human lifting — no equipment involved
Where mechanical lifting aids are used — a hand-operated lever hoist, a battery-powered stacker, a motorised sack truck with a lifting platform — LOLER may apply if the equipment raises a load to a height where it could fall and cause harm. The test is whether there is a lifting operation involving a load and a risk of the load falling. The HSE publication INDG290 ↗ (Lifting equipment at work) provides a plain-language summary of the scope question.
Lifting Accessories: What Is Covered
Lifting accessories are the components between the lifting machine and the load. They are covered by LOLER 1998 and require their own thorough examination every 6 months — regardless of the examination interval for the lifting machine itself.
Lifting accessories in scope include:
- Slings — wire rope, chain, and textile slings
- Chains — alloy steel lifting chains
- Hooks — swivel hooks, safety hooks, and grab hooks
- Shackles — bow shackles and dee shackles
- Eyebolts and eye nuts
- Spreader beams and lifting beams
- Swivels, links, and connecting components
- Below-the-hook lifting devices — C-hooks, coil hooks, and drum lifters
Every lifting accessory must be marked with its safe working load (SWL). Any accessory without a legible SWL mark cannot be used until it is re-marked or replaced. The 6-monthly examination interval applies to all lifting accessories without exception — even those used infrequently. Frequency of use does not affect the inspection interval.
Managing Your Full Equipment Scope in One Place
Most organisations that think they have a LOLER asset register have an incomplete one. The overhead crane gets its 12-monthly examination. The slings used on that crane get missed. The scissor lift certificate lapses. The tail lift on the delivery vehicle was never put into the system.
One missed asset in scope is all it takes for a compliance gap. When the HSE visits, they check your register against what is physically on site. Lolerflow gives you a central asset register covering all LOLER equipment and accessories, with automated renewal reminders for both 6-month and 12-month intervals. Read our LOLER inspection checklist to audit what you have, then see how LOLER inspection software keeps every asset in scope and every due date visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding what equipment is covered by LOLER is the first step in a compliant inspection programme. The next step is making sure everything in scope is tracked, examined on time, and documented correctly. Read our LOLER compliance guide for the full duty holder picture, or see our LOLER vs PUWER guide if you need to understand exactly where one regulation ends and the other begins.