20 Jan 2026
HOW OFTEN SHOULD LIFTING EQUIPMENT BE INSPECTED?
Lifting equipment, as with any tool or machinery, is governed by a legal regulation that outlines how often it should be inspected, serviced and tested. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) is the law in question that outlines these details for equipment like hoists, cranes and forklifts. It is an essential health and safety document that ensures proper maintenance and safe lifting operations that will work to reduce on-site accidents, injuries and material damage.
This regulation also outlines the key differences and reasoning for “inspections” and “thorough examinations”. A typical inspection is the normal, visual inspection that should be conducted both before and after every use. This involves checking for any obvious damage, checking the cleanliness and ensuring that everything is present and working for use.
A thorough examination, on the other hand, is more of a deep dive. It is a systematic and documented examination of safety-critical parts, any wear or deterioration, regulation compliance and everything else in between.
This more involved check needs to be conducted by a competent person with training in this field, and is legally required yearly, or every six months for lifting accessories or if the equipment is used to lift people. These checking intervals can and should be more regular if the lifting equipment in question is used in harsh conditions or with consistent heavy loads.
Thorough examinations should also be carried out before its first ever use, following initial installation or after any relocation, as well as after any major repairs or other significant changes.
Think of an inspection as checking your tyre pressure, whereas a thorough examination is an MOT.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD LIFTING EQUIPMENT BE SERVICED?
Servicing and maintenance of lifting equipment are separate from typical visual inspections and are required under general work equipment law, specifically the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). While LOLER sets out when, how and by whom thorough examinations must take place, PUWER places an ongoing duty on employers and equipment owners to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient, optimal state at all times.
Servicing typically includes routine tasks such as lubrication of moving parts, adjustment of mechanisms, replacement of worn components, functional testing and general wear-and-tear repairs. These servicing tasks are designed to help prevent deterioration, reduce the risk of breakdowns and ensure the equipment continues to operate safely between formal inspections.
Unlike thorough examinations under LOLER, servicing intervals are not set at fixed legal timeframes. Instead, the frequency of how often lifting equipment should be serviced should be determined by manufacturer recommendations, the intensity of use, the operating environment and the findings of a risk assessment. Equipment used daily, subjected to heavy loads or operating in harsh or potentially corrosive conditions will usually require more frequent maintenance than lightly used equipment in controlled environments. In many cases, this results in routine servicing schedules such as quarterly, monthly or even weekly in more extreme circumstances.
It is very important to understand that servicing does not replace the requirement for thorough LOLER examinations. Maintenance activities are carried out to keep equipment functioning correctly, whereas a thorough examination is an independent, systematic assessment designed to identify safety-critical defects. Even well-maintained equipment must still undergo LOLER examinations at the required intervals, or as specified in a written examination scheme.
Effective compliance is achieved when both requirements are met. Regular servicing under PUWER helps extend equipment life and reduce the likelihood of defects, while scheduled LOLER examinations help ensure that lifting equipment remains safe for continued use. Together, they form a comprehensive approach to lifting equipment safety and important legal compliance.
HOW OFTEN DOES LIFTING EQUIPMENT NEED TO BE TESTED?
The term “testing” in relation to lifting equipment usually refers to activities such as load testing or non-destructive testing, rather than routine inspections or maintenance. Under LOLER, testing is not automatically required at every thorough examination. Instead, the need for testing is determined by a risk-based assessment carried out by the competent person responsible for the thorough examination at the time.
In most cases, a visual and functional examination is more than sufficient to confirm that lifting equipment remains safe for continued use. However, testing may be required where the condition of the equipment cannot be fully assessed by examination alone, or where there is a higher level of risk. This approach allows testing to be applied proportionately, rather than as a fixed, legal or automatic requirement.
Testing is commonly required after initial installation and before first use, particularly where the installation could affect the structural integrity or performance of the equipment. It may also be necessary following major repairs, significant modifications or replacement of load-bearing components. In these situations, testing provides a far greater level of assurance that the equipment can safely withstand its intended loads and operate as designed.
Manufacturer guidance is another factor that can also influence testing requirements. Some types of lifting equipment specify testing following certain repairs or at defined stages of their service life. Other environmental factors like corrosion, fatigue or exposure to extreme conditions may increase the likelihood that testing will be recommended.
Importantly, there is no fixed statutory interval for load testing or other forms of testing under LOLER. The regulations require that the equipment is safe for use, not that it is tested on a predetermined schedule. The decision to test should always be justified by a prior risk assessment and recorded as part of the examination process.
Testing should be viewed as a targeted safety measure rather than a routine obligation. When used appropriately, it supports informed decision making by the competent person and helps ensure lifting equipment remains safe, compliant and suitable for continued operation without unnecessary disruption or cost. The answer to the question of how often lifting equipment needs to be tested is whenever it is deemed necessary by an expert.
CONCLUSION
This blog post should have answered all of your questions about how often lifting equipment should be inspected. In short, any lifting accessories or lifting equipment that is used to lift people needs to be thoroughly inspected at a minimum of every six months. Standard lifting equipment that isn’t used to lift people only needs a thorough inspection every 12 months. You can carry out these inspections as often as is deemed necessary for the equipment's workload. For traditional visibility and functionality inspections, these should be carried out both before and after use by the user. There is also the option to have the equipment strength tested, but this is not a regulation requirement; instead, testing should be done after installation, relocation or if deemed suitable from a risk assessment. It is best practice across the board for both LOLER and PUWER to keep full, detailed records of all of these inspections.
For more guidance on how often your lifting equipment should be inspected, tested or serviced, explore this other blog post about lifting equipment regulations or contact the experts here at LES for more guidance on this subject. We also offer a comprehensive repair service option for lifting equipment to help you reduce downtime and maintain the quality and functionality of your lifting equipment.
