LOLER And PUWER

1. What Is LOLER?

LOLER – the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 – sets out legal duties for any business that uses lifting equipment. The aim is to ensure lifting operations are properly planned, supervised by a competent person, and carried out safely using equipment that has been examined and certified.

1.1 What Does LOLER Cover?

LOLER applies to any equipment used for lifting or lowering, including attachments used to anchor, fix or support that equipment. Common examples include:

• Chain slings, wire rope slings and round slings
• Shackles, eyebolts, lifting points and lifting lugs
• Electric chain hoists and wire rope hoists
• Overhead cranes, gantry cranes, monorails and jib cranes
• Forklift-mounted hooks, jibs and other lifting attachments
• Mobile cranes, spreader beams and lifting beams
• MEWPs, man baskets and other equipment used to lift people

If the primary function in that operation is to lift or lower a load, LOLER will be relevant.

1.2 Thorough Examination Requirements

A core element of LOLER is the requirement for regular Thorough Examinations by a competent person. These examinations are different from day-to-day maintenance or repairs. They are formal, legally-required inspections, usually resulting in a GA1 Certificate.

Under LOLER, Thorough Examinations must be carried out at the following maximum intervals, unless a written scheme specifies otherwise:

• Every 6 months – for lifting accessories (e.g. slings, shackles, eyebolts)
• Every 6 months – for lifting equipment used to lift people
• Every 12 months – for all other lifting equipment

1.3 Planning of Lifting Operations

LOLER also requires that every lifting operation is properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner. This planning should be proportionate to the level of risk and may be relatively simple for routine, low-risk tasks.

More complex or higher-risk lifts, such as:

• Tandem lifts using more than one crane or hoist
• Lifts carried out near overhead services or live plant
• Non-standard or heavy loads with an unusual centre of gravity

will often require a written lift plan, method statement and specific risk assessment, drawn up by a competent person.

1.4 Marking and Safe Working Load (SWL)

LOLER requires lifting equipment to be clearly marked with its Safe Working Load (SWL). This marking must be durable, legible, and relevant to how the equipment is being used. For some lifting equipment, this may include multiple SWLs for different configurations or angles.

Typical examples include:

• Chain slings with SWLs at different leg angles
• Spreader beams with different SWLs at different lifting points
• Jib cranes with varying SWLs at different jib radii

1.5 Record Keeping Under LOLER

Proper documentation is essential. Employers must keep records such as:

• GA1 Thorough Examination reports and certificates
• Records of repairs, modifications and maintenance
• Lift plans and associated risk assessments
• Defect reports and evidence of corrective actions taken

2. What Is PUWER?

PUWER – the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 – applies to virtually all work equipment, not just lifting equipment. Its purpose is to ensure that any equipment used by employees is suitable for its task, properly maintained, and used safely by trained people.

2.1 What Does PUWER Cover?

PUWER’s scope is broad. It applies to an extensive range of work equipment, including:

• Forklift trucks, pallet trucks and stackers
• Scissor lift tables and work positioning platforms
• Power tools such as grinders, drills and saws
• Conveyor systems and production line machinery
• Presses, cutting machines and fabrication equipment
• Workshop tools, compactors and balers
• Vehicles used in the workplace
• Robotics and automated handling systems

In short, if employees use it for work, PUWER is likely to apply.

2.2 Key PUWER Requirements

Under PUWER, employers must ensure that work equipment is:

• Suitable for its intended use and the environment in which it is used
• Maintained so that it remains in a safe condition
• Inspected where necessary to identify deterioration or new risks
• Used only by people who have received appropriate training and instruction
• Guarded to prevent access to dangerous parts where possible
• Fitted with safe control systems, emergency stops and warning devices where required

2.3 How PUWER and LOLER Interact

Lifting equipment is covered by both PUWER and LOLER. PUWER looks at the general safety of the equipment itself, while LOLER focuses specifically on the lifting aspects and the way lifting operations are planned and carried out.

3. Employer Responsibilities Under LOLER & PUWER

Both LOLER and PUWER place duties on employers, equipment owners and those in control of work premises. In practice, this means they must ensure equipment is safe, staff are competent, and lifting operations are properly controlled.

3.1 Competent Persons

A competent person is someone with sufficient knowledge, training and experience to identify existing and potential hazards, and to assess whether equipment is safe to use. For LOLER Thorough Examinations, this typically means a specialist lifting engineer or inspection provider with appropriate qualifications.

3.2 Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Employers must carry out risk assessments covering both the equipment and how it is used. This includes:

• Identifying hazards relating to lifting equipment, moving parts and loads
• Assessing who might be harmed and how
• Implementing control measures (e.g. barriers, exclusion zones, improved guarding)
• Documenting safe systems of work for higher-risk activities

3.3 Training and Instruction

People who use, maintain or supervise work equipment must receive appropriate training. For lifting equipment this will normally include:

• Formal operator training (e.g. crane or forklift training)
• Awareness of SWLs, load stability and correct use of lifting accessories
• Pre-use checks and reporting of defects
• Emergency procedures and safe shutdown

3.4 Maintenance and Inspection

Equipment must be maintained in a safe condition. This means:

• Planned servicing in line with manufacturer guidance
• Prompt attention to reported faults or damage
• Retirement of slings and accessories that no longer meet standards
• Keeping accurate maintenance and inspection records

3.5 Safe Working Environment

The environment in which lifting equipment is used can significantly affect safety. Employers should consider:

• Ground conditions and floor load capacities
• Overhead obstructions and services
• Lighting, visibility and weather (for outdoor lifting)
• Safe storage and segregation of lifting accessories

4. How LOLER and PUWER Work Together in Practice

Consider a workshop using an electric chain hoist on a jib crane to lift components onto a workstation.

Under PUWER, the employer must ensure:

• The hoist and jib crane are suitable for the task and environment
• The installation is structurally sound and stable
• Controls are clearly marked and functioning correctly
• Moving parts are guarded where necessary
• Operators have been trained in safe use

Under LOLER, the employer must also ensure:

• The hoist and crane are subject to periodic Thorough Examination (and GA1 certification)
• Lifting accessories such as chain slings are certified at 6-monthly intervals
• Lifting operations are planned and, where appropriate, formally documented
• Loads are within the SWL and stable throughout the lift
• Any defects found during examination are addressed promptly

4.1 Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failing to comply with LOLER or PUWER can have serious consequences, including:

• Enforcement action and possible prosecution
• Fines, legal costs and reputational damage
• Increased insurance premiums or invalidated cover
• Equipment being taken out of service and operational delays
• Serious injuries or fatalities

5. Best Practice for Managing LOLER & PUWER

While the regulations set out the minimum legal requirements, many organisations go further and implement structured systems that make compliance easier to maintain day to day.

5.1 Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM)

A PPM programme helps ensure equipment remains in good condition and issues are identified before they become safety risks. This often includes:

• Service schedules for cranes, hoists and forklifts
• Routine inspection of slings, hooks and shackles
• Pre-use checklists for operators
• Clear fault-reporting and lock-out procedures

5.2 Asset Registers and Tagging

Maintaining an up-to-date asset register makes it easier to manage LOLER and PUWER obligations. This typically records:

• Equipment type, model and serial number
• Safe Working Load and configuration details
• Location and responsible department
• Last and next inspection dates

Tagging or colour-coding lifting accessories provides a quick visual check that items are in date for inspection.

5.3 Storage and Handling of Lifting Accessories

Slings and accessories should be stored so that they are protected from damage, contamination and unnecessary wear. Good practice includes:

• Dedicated sling racks or cabinets
• Dry, clean storage areas
• Separation of damaged or quarantined equipment

5.4 Clear Roles and Communication

Everyone involved in lifting operations and work equipment use should understand their responsibilities. This often includes:

• Appointing a person responsible for coordinating LOLER and PUWER compliance
• Providing toolbox talks and refresher training
• Ensuring findings from inspections are communicated and acted upon

5.5 Quick Comparison: LOLER vs PUWER