In practice
Lifting plans, the inspection checklist, and the path to becoming an inspector.
The statute and the cadence are the framework. In day-to-day operation, three operational artefacts do most of the work — the lifting plan that organises a one-off lift, the inspection checklist that structures a thorough examination, and the qualification path that produces the competent person who signs the report.
Lifting plans under LOLER
Regulation 8 requires every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner. The lifting plan is the structured document that meets that duty. It does not need to be elaborate — for a routine lift on a permanently installed passenger lift, the plan is largely standing operating procedure; for a one-off lift involving a crane, hoist, forklift truck, sling and shackle arrangement, it is a substantive document that pulls together every safety-critical variable in advance of the lift.
A lifting plan typically covers six elements. First, the load — the weight to be lifted, its centre of gravity, any awkward geometry, and the path from origin to destination. Second, the equipment — the type of lifting equipment to be used (crane, hoist, lifting beam, sling, shackle, chain), the safe working load of every component, and the verification that every piece has a current LOLER thorough examination certificate. Third, the personnel — the qualifications, training, and competence of every operator, banksman, slinger, and supervisor involved. Fourth, the location — ground stability for the lifting equipment, overhead obstructions, the proximity of other workers or equipment, and the access and egress routes. Fifth, the environment — weather conditions, wind speed for outdoor lifts, lighting and ventilation for confined-space lifts, and any specific risks the location introduces. Sixth, the risk assessment that ties everything together — every hazard identified, every mitigation specified, every residual risk accepted by a named competent person.
Failure to plan a lifting operation is the regulatory equivalent of failing to do the lift safely — even if no incident occurs, the absence of a lifting plan is itself a breach of LOLER. Enforcement action ranges from improvement notices through to prosecution, with fines and in serious cases imprisonment available to the courts. Plans must be reviewed and updated as the operation, the equipment, or the environment changes.
What's included in a LOLER inspection checklist
A LOLER inspection checklist is the structured form a competent person works through during a thorough examination. It covers four distinct areas, in this order.
The equipment itself. Every load-bearing component is examined for wear and tear, damage, and corrosion that could affect safety. On a passenger lift that means ropes, sheaves, guides, buffers, governor, brake assembly, controller, and the cabin structure. On a platform lift that means screw or hydraulic drive, slack-rope or screw-wear sensors, mast, cabin floor, and shaft enclosure. On lifting accessories — slings, chains, eyebolts, shackles — it means visual inspection for cuts, abrasion, deformation, and corrosion, with measurement of wear at recognised wear points. Any defects identified must be rectified before the equipment is returned to service or scheduled within the appropriate defect-class window.
Safety features and verification. Limit switches, emergency stop buttons, light curtains, overspeed governors, brake performance, door interlocks, levelling tolerances, and overload trips are all verified in good working order through a dynamic test phase. Platform lifts under BS EN 81-41 additionally verify obstruction sensing and controlled descent on power loss. Equipment must be properly marked with its Safe Working Load (SWL) and any other relevant information.
The lifting operation in practice. The competent person checks that the equipment is being used in a safe and controlled manner, within its safe working limits, by operators who are properly trained and competent. Where the equipment lifts goods, the load being lifted must be within the capacity of the equipment; where it lifts people, the cabin's rated load is the test.
Maintenance, storage, and documentation. Maintenance records are reviewed for evidence of ongoing servicing; storage arrangements for portable equipment are checked for damage prevention; inspection reports and maintenance documentation are confirmed to be current and available to the duty-holder, employees, and the enforcing authority. The competent person's output is a written report under Regulation 10 — a Form 80 for lifts used to lift people, a Schedule 1 for other lifting equipment — issued inside 28 days.
How to become a LOLER inspector
There is no single statutory qualification that makes someone a LOLER inspector — competence is the test, and the path runs in four phases.
Phase one — qualifications. A relevant qualification in mechanical or electrical engineering is the foundation. A degree or HND in engineering is ideal; NVQ Level 3 or higher in lift engineering, or a recognised engineering apprenticeship route, is the more common path for engineers entering the inspection side from a maintenance background. A solid understanding of lift technology and mechanics — passenger and platform lift mechanisms, traction and hydraulic drive, control systems, safety circuits — is the prerequisite.
Phase two — practical experience in the lift industry. Hands-on experience as a lift engineer or technician precedes inspection work. Working across multiple lift types, multiple OEM platforms, and multiple ages of installation builds the pattern-recognition that an inspector relies on. An engineer who has only ever serviced one brand at one age band is not yet a competent person under LOLER.
Phase three — certification through an accredited training course. A LOLER inspector training course accredited by a recognised body — typically the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) or the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) — covers the requirements of LOLER, the methodology for conducting a thorough examination, the criteria for identifying and reporting defects, and the legal responsibilities of a competent person. Course providers vary in depth and rigour; LEIA-accredited routes are the industry standard for lift-specific work.
Phase four — supervised practical experience. After certification, an inspector works under the supervision of a qualified, experienced inspector across multiple settings — passenger lifts in commercial offices, platform lifts in care homes, goods lifts in industrial premises, accessibility lifts in retail. The supervision phase is what converts the certification into operational competence.
Maintaining competence. Once qualified, an inspector maintains continuing professional development — refresher courses, technical seminars, workshops, and tracking of changes to LOLER, PUWER, the Equality Act, and the BS EN standards. The competent-person status is not a permanent badge; it is a continuing professional standing.
