LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) relates to the use of lifting equipment and aims to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work. To some extent it overlaps PUWER (see below) but does not contradict it.

LOLER is applicable to employers or self-employed persons providing lifting equipment for use at work, or control the use of lifting equipment at work. The duty holder will normally be the building occupant.

PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) relates to the testing and use of any equipment at work, which is a more general regulation.

“The use of work equipment is also very widely interpreted and ‘…means any activity involving work equipment and includes starting, stopping, programming, setting, transporting, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing and cleaning’.”

Lifting platforms are governed by LOLER regulations, which offer more specific and relevant requirements – however, if a lifting platform falls within the scope of PUWER then the full regulation must be applied.

For more information around LOLER, PUWER and lifting equipment, please see the government HSE website here.

• Strong and stable enough for designated use
• Marked to indicate safe working loads
• Positioned and installed in a manner reflecting recognised risks
• Used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised and performed by competent persons subject to ongoing thorough examination (every six months) and, where appropriate, inspection by competent persons together with, a report is submitted by the competent person to the employer to take the appropriate action
• Lifting operations must be planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by competent persons
• The provision of adequate instructions.

Basically the lift must be suitable for use, used properly, and given official inspection every 6 months.

LOLER regulations cover a wide range of lifting items:

• Cranes, fork-lift trucks, lifts, platform lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, and vehicle inspection platform hoists.
• Ancillary equipment, including any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it.
• Lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eyebolts etc.

What is Excluded from LOLER?

Items which are covered by more specific legislation are not covered by LOLER regulations – for example, escalators and conventional lifts are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 when used by employees, teachers, welfare staff, shop assistants and nurses, so are not under LOLER requirements.