LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It is the UK law that requires lifts and other lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined by a competent person at set intervals, with defects recorded and acted on.
This guide explains what LOLER means for lift owners and duty holders: who is responsible, how often lifts must be examined, how LOLER differs from PUWER, and what an inspection costs. Need the inspection itself? See LOLER inspections across London and Kent.
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. The regulations set legal duties for any lifting equipment used at work, from passenger and goods lifts to hoists and platform lifts.
A set of UK regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work Act, in force since 1998.
To identify deterioration, damage or unsafe conditions before they cause an incident.
The interval depends on what the lift carries. These are the statutory maximum periods between thorough examinations under LOLER.
Any lift that carries people must be thoroughly examined at least every six months, unless a written scheme of examination specifies otherwise.
Lifts that carry only goods, with no rider, are usually examined every twelve months. Dumbwaiters and most goods hoists sit in this group.
A competent person can draw up a written scheme of examination that sets different intervals based on use, age and risk. Examinations are also needed after major repairs or exceptional events.
A thorough examination is more detailed than a routine service. It is a structured safety inspection that ends in a formal report.
The competent person confirms the lift type, how it is used, previous reports and the statutory due date.
Safety-critical components such as ropes, suspension, brakes, gates and safety gear are examined on site.
Findings are graded by risk so the duty holder knows what is dangerous now and what needs planning.
You receive a written report. Any defect that could cause danger must be reported to the relevant enforcing authority.
Under LOLER the duty holder is whoever is in control of the lifting equipment. In a managed building that is usually the building owner, the employer or the managing agent acting on their behalf.
A competent person has the practical and theoretical knowledge of the equipment, plus enough independence to make an objective safety decision. For lifts this is usually an independent inspector or an insurance inspection engineer.
Property teams often ask whether a lift needs LOLER, PUWER, or both. The short answer is both.
PUWER covers the safe provision, use and maintenance of all work equipment. It is the general baseline that applies to a lift like any other machine on site.
LOLER sits on top of PUWER for equipment that lifts. It adds the requirement for statutory thorough examinations at set intervals. A passenger lift must satisfy both.
A thorough examination for a single passenger lift typically costs in the low hundreds of pounds. The price depends on the lift type, the site, access and how many lifts are examined in one visit.
Most duty holders fold LOLER thorough examinations into a planned lift maintenance contract so cover and compliance run together. For a fuller breakdown of servicing and inspection budgets, see our lift maintenance cost guide.
Direct answers on meaning, frequency, duty holders and cost.
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It places legal duties on people and organisations who own, operate or control lifting equipment used at work, including passenger and goods lifts.
A thorough examination is a detailed, systematic inspection of lifting equipment by a competent person. For a lift it checks the safety-critical components and confirms whether the lift is safe to remain in use, in a similar role to an MOT for a vehicle.
Lifts that carry people must be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months. Goods-only lifts are usually examined every 12 months. Different intervals can apply where a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person specifies them.
The duty holder is the person or organisation in control of the lifting equipment, often the building owner, employer or managing agent. They are responsible for arranging thorough examinations and acting on the reports.
PUWER covers the safe use of all work equipment. LOLER adds extra requirements specifically for lifting equipment, including statutory thorough examinations. A passenger lift must meet both sets of regulations.
A LOLER thorough examination for a single passenger lift typically costs in the low hundreds of pounds, depending on lift type, location and access. Many duty holders include it within a planned maintenance contract.
Yes. LOLER 1998 is UK law. Duty holders who fail to arrange thorough examinations of lifts can face enforcement action from the HSE and may find insurance cover is affected.
The HSE Approved Code of Practice and guidance for LOLER is L113, Safe use of lifting equipment. Following it is a recognised way to demonstrate compliance with the regulations.
Yes. A passenger lift in a residential block that is used by people at work, including cleaners, contractors and managing agents, falls under LOLER and must be thoroughly examined at the correct interval.
