What Does LOLER Mean?
LOLER is an abbreviation of Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It is often referred to as LOLER regs or LOLER 98 regulations. The LOLER regulations came into force on 5 December 1998.
If you want to know what LOLER is and how it may impact your business, keep reading for more details.
What Are the LOLER Regulations?
LOLER replaced existing legal requirements relating to the use of lifting equipment. For example, the Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961, the Lifting Plant and Equipment (Records of Test and Examination etc.) Regulations 1992, and the Docks Regulations 1988. Many aspects of LOLER should therefore be familiar to you.
The LOLER Regulations aim to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work. Lifting equipment must comply with the rules of LOLER and PUWER. LOLER focuses on the safe use of lifting equipment, while PUWER focuses on the maintenance of work equipment. Both sets of rules are important for ensuring the safety of workers and the proper functioning of equipment.
LOLER regulations are a part of the broader health and safety regulations in the UK and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
What is a LOLER Inspection?
Generally, LOLER lifting equipment regulations require that lifting equipment provided for use at work is regularly inspected to ensure that it is:
- Positioned and installed to minimise any risks
- Strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads
- Used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised, and performed by competent people
It is subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by competent people, such as ISI.
Visit our LOLER regulations pdf for further information or to download a copy, or call our helpful LOLER specialist team on 01675 481779.