LOLER Training Course

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to any equipment used for lifting or lowering loads as part of a work activity. This includes both the lifting equipment itself and any accessories used during lifting operations.

Examples of equipment covered by LOLER include:

• Cranes and mobile cranes
• Forklift trucks used for lifting loads
• Hoists and chain blocks
• Vehicle lifts and passenger lifts used in the workplace
• Slings, chains, ropes and lifting beams
• Shackles, eyebolts and other lifting accessories
• Winches and lifting platforms
• Excavators and telehandlers when used for lifting operations

LOLER also applies to lifting accessories, which are components used to attach loads to lifting equipment. These items must be thoroughly examined and maintained just as carefully as the lifting equipment itself.

Not all work equipment falls under LOLER. Equipment that does not lift or lower loads may instead be covered by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), which sets out broader requirements for the safe use, maintenance and inspection of workplace equipment.

Understanding which equipment is covered by LOLER helps employers ensure that lifting operations are properly planned, lifting equipment is suitable for its intended use, and all statutory inspection and maintenance requirements are met to keep employees and others safe.

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), all lifting equipment must be regularly inspected to ensure it remains safe to use. In addition to routine maintenance and pre-use checks, the regulations require lifting equipment to undergo a thorough examination by a competent person at specified intervals.

As a general guide:

• Every 6 months for lifting equipment and accessories used to lift people, and for lifting accessories such as slings, chains and shackles.
• Every 12 months for lifting equipment used only to lift goods, such as certain cranes, hoists and forklift attachments.
• After exceptional circumstances, such as damage, overloading, significant modifications or prolonged periods out of use, before the equipment is returned to service.

A competent person may also recommend more frequent examinations based on factors such as the type of equipment, how often it is used, the working environment and the level of risk involved.

Regular inspections help identify defects before they become safety hazards, ensuring lifting operations remain compliant with LOLER and reducing the risk of accidents, equipment failure and costly downtime.

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), a competent person is someone with the appropriate knowledge, practical experience and technical expertise to carry out thorough examinations of lifting equipment and identify any defects that could affect its safe operation.

There is no single qualification that makes someone a competent person. Instead, competence is determined by a combination of factors, including relevant training, experience, an understanding of lifting equipment and its intended use, and the ability to recognise potential hazards or signs of wear and damage.

The competent person must also be sufficiently independent and impartial to make objective decisions about whether equipment is safe to remain in service. In many organisations, this may be an external inspection specialist or a suitably qualified in-house engineer, provided they have the necessary expertise and authority.

Employers are responsible for ensuring that anyone appointed as a competent person has the skills and knowledge required to carry out thorough examinations in accordance with LOLER. Choosing the right individual helps ensure lifting equipment remains safe, compliant and fit for use, reducing the risk of equipment failure and workplace accidents.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) are both important pieces of UK health and safety legislation, but they cover different aspects of workplace equipment.

In many workplaces, both sets of regulations apply to the same equipment. For example, a crane, hoist or forklift truck used for lifting loads must meet the general safety requirements of PUWER, while also complying with the additional inspection, examination and lifting operation requirements set out under LOLER.

Understanding the difference between LOLER and PUWER helps employers ensure they meet their legal responsibilities, maintain safe working practices and protect employees during lifting operations.

Failure to comply with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) can have serious consequences for both employers and employees. The regulations are designed to ensure lifting equipment is safe to use, properly maintained and regularly examined, helping to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.

If an employer fails to meet their legal responsibilities, they could face:

• Improvement Notices – requiring safety issues to be addressed within a specified timeframe.
• Prohibition Notices – preventing unsafe lifting equipment or lifting operations from continuing until risks have been removed.
• Prosecution – for serious breaches of health and safety legislation.
• Financial Penalties – including significant fines depending on the severity of the offence.

Non-compliance can also lead to wider business consequences, including:

• Increased risk of equipment failure.
• Dropped loads and serious workplace accidents.
• Employee injuries.
• Operational downtime and project delays.
• Damage to equipment and property.
• Reputational damage.
• Higher insurance and investigation costs.

By ensuring lifting equipment is thoroughly examined by a competent person, properly maintained and used as part of well-planned lifting operations, employers can meet their obligations under LOLER, protect their workforce and create a safer working environment.

LOLER training helps employers and employees understand how to carry out lifting operations safely and in accordance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). By improving knowledge of legal requirements and best practice, the training reduces workplace risks and helps create a safer working environment.

Key benefits of LOLER training include:

• Improved workplace safety – Reduces the likelihood of accidents, injuries and dropped loads during lifting operations.
• Better hazard awareness – Helps employees recognise potential risks before they become serious incidents.
• Legal compliance – Supports compliance with LOLER by ensuring lifting operations are properly planned and carried out safely.
• Safer use of lifting equipment – Promotes the correct selection, inspection and use of lifting equipment and lifting accessories.
• Greater employee confidence – Gives workers the knowledge to carry out lifting tasks safely and follow recognised best practices.
• Reduced equipment failure – Encourages routine inspections, maintenance and thorough examinations to identify defects early.
• Stronger safety culture – Reinforces the importance of planning, communication and shared responsibility for workplace health and safety.

LOLER training also covers essential topics such as:

• Safe lifting procedures
• Equipment selection
• Risk assessments
• Safe Working Loads (SWL)
• Inspection requirements
• Thorough examinations
• Employer and employee responsibilities

Whether you are planning lifting operations, supervising staff or operating lifting equipment, LOLER training provides the knowledge and practical understanding needed to work safely, reduce risks and support ongoing compliance with workplace health and safety legislation.

LOLER training is suitable for anyone involved in planning, supervising, managing or carrying out lifting operations in the workplace. It is particularly beneficial for individuals who use lifting equipment as part of their role or who are responsible for ensuring lifting activities are carried out safely and in compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).

This includes:

• Site managers and supervisors
• Health and safety professionals
• Warehouse and logistics staff
• Construction workers
• Crane, hoist and forklift operators
• Maintenance engineers and techniciansv
• Anyone responsible for inspecting or managing lifting equipment
• Employers with responsibility for workplace health and safety

LOLER training is relevant across a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, engineering, agriculture and facilities management. Even if you do not operate lifting equipment directly, understanding your legal responsibilities and the principles of safe lifting can help reduce risks and improve workplace safety.

By completing LOLER training, learners gain the knowledge needed to identify potential hazards, understand inspection requirements, support safe lifting operations and help ensure lifting equipment is used correctly and maintained in accordance with current legislation.

LOLER training helps employers understand and meet their legal duties under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). By providing a clear understanding of the regulations and recognised safe working practices, the training enables employers to plan and manage lifting operations safely while reducing the risk of accidents and non-compliance.

LOLER training helps employers to:

• Select suitable lifting equipment for each task.
• Ensure lifting equipment is properly maintained.
• Arrange thorough examinations by a competent person.
• Carry out suitable risk assessments before lifting operations.
• Provide employees with adequate information, instruction and training.
• Establish safe systems of work.
• Plan, supervise and monitor lifting operations safely.
• Meet wider workplace health and safety responsibilities.

By investing in LOLER training, employers can demonstrate a proactive approach to health and safety, helping to reduce the likelihood of equipment failure, workplace injuries and enforcement action while creating a safer working environment.

LOLER training provides employees with the knowledge and confidence to carry out lifting operations safely, helping to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). By understanding how to use lifting equipment correctly and recognise potential hazards, employees can contribute to a safer working environment for themselves and their colleagues.

By completing LOLER training, employees can:

• Carry out lifting operations more safely and confidently.
• Recognise workplace hazards before they lead to accidents.
• Reduce the risk of injuries and equipment damage.
• Understand their legal responsibilities when using lifting equipment.
• Improve efficiency by following safe working practices.
• Support a safer workplace for colleagues and visitors.

LOLER training also helps employees understand:

• Safe lifting procedures.
• Equipment inspections and maintenance checks.
• Risk assessments.
• Safe Working Loads (SWL).
• How to report damaged or defective equipment.
• Why lifting operations must be properly planned and supervised.

Ultimately, LOLER training supports both personal safety and professional development by giving employees a better understanding of lifting equipment, legal requirements and industry best practice for safe lifting operations across a wide range of working environments.