Ref LOLER reg 9 and PUWER reg 6Checked November 2026
Forklift LOLER Inspection
Every forklift and other lift truck used at work needs a thorough examination of its lifting parts at least every 12 months under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. That interval drops to 6 months if the truck ever lifts people in a work platform, and attachments that count as lifting accessories also go on a 6 month cycle.
LOLER only covers the lifting parts: mast, chains, carriage, forks and hydraulics. The rest of the truck, from brakes and steering to tyres and guards, comes under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Expect most examiners to quote one combined visit for the two.
- Interval, standard use
- Every 12 monthsLOLER 9(3)(a)(ii)
- Lifting people or accessories
- Every 6 monthsLOLER 9(3)(a)(i)
- First truck on a visit
- £120 to £300ex VAT
- Each further truck
- £90 to £150same visit, ex VAT
Part 1
Which trucks need a LOLER examination?
- Counterbalance forklifts (diesel, gas and electric), reach trucks, very narrow aisle trucks and side loaders.
- Telescopic handlers and rough terrain forklifts on farms, building sites and yards.
- Pallet stackers and order pickers with a lifting mast. Hand pallet trucks that only raise a load a few centimetres are usually treated as handling aids, but ask your examiner.
- Fork extensions, jibs, rotators, clamps and other attachments, which may be lifting accessories on a 6 month cycle.
- Hired trucks: the hire firm must supply a current report, and a hire of more than 12 months will need another examination.
A truck used even occasionally with an integrated work platform falls into the 6 month category, and the platform needs its own examination. HSE guidance treats lifting people on forks without a purpose-built platform as unacceptable.
Forklift examination fees
| Item | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| First truck on a visit LOLER and PUWER thorough examination, standard counterbalance or reach truck | £120 to £300 |
| Each further truck Same site, same visit | £90 to £150 |
| Pallet stacker or order picker Walk-behind or ride-on, with a lifting mast | £80 to £150 |
| Telehandler Boom, carriage and attachments | £150 to £300 |
| Attachments Jibs, extensions, clamps, examined as accessories | £20 to £60 each |
| Single truck, stand-alone visit Including travel | £150 to £350 |
Excluding VAT. Published examiner prices for one truck run from about £125 to £300; fleets on one site come out far cheaper per truck. Servicing is extra.
Part 2
What a forklift examination should cover
A combined thorough examination looks at the lifting parts under LOLER and the rest of the truck under PUWER.
- Mast and carriage
- Mast sections, rollers, channels and stops for wear, cracks and distortion; carriage plate and backrest.
- Lift chains and anchors
- Chain elongation measured against the maker’s limit, link and pin wear, anchor bolts and adjustment.
- Forks and attachments
- Fork heel thickness against the 10% wear limit, cracks at the heel and hooks, locking pins, and attachment mountings.
- Hydraulics
- Lift and tilt cylinders, hoses, leaks and drift under load, and the load holding and lowering controls.
- Brakes, steering and tyres
- Service and parking brakes, steering, wheels and tyres, seat belt and overhead guard, checked under PUWER.
- Rated capacity and data plate
- A readable capacity plate that matches the truck and any attachment fitted, as LOLER regulation 7 requires.
Tell us how many trucks you run and where, and we will find an examiner who covers your sites.
Request an examinationPart 3
How a fleet examination runs
Send the truck list
before bookingMake, model, serial number, capacity, attachments and the date of each truck’s last report, by site.
Book a visit window
two to four weeks aheadAgree a date when the equipment can be taken out of use, cleaned and reached, with someone on site who knows it. Group sites and items to cut visit charges.
Examination on site
about an hour a truckEach truck taken out of service in turn, ideally with forks and mast clean, and returned with a status tag.
Reports and actions
within 28 daysA report for each truck. Anything unsafe is taken out of use there and then; other defects carry a date.
Part 4
Forklift intervals at a glance
| Situation | LOLER interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard use, loads only | 12 months | The usual case for warehouse fleets |
| Used with an integrated work platform | 6 months | Truck and platform both examined |
| Attachments that are lifting accessories | 6 months | Jibs, hooks and some clamps |
| Heavy, multi-shift or harsh use | Shorter, by a written scheme | Cold stores, foundries, ports |
| After a collision or overload | Before further use | Exceptional circumstances, regulation 9(3)(a)(iv) |
Questions duty holders ask
How often does a forklift need a LOLER inspection?
At least every 12 months for a truck that only lifts loads. Every 6 months if it is used to lift people in a work platform, and for attachments that count as lifting accessories.
Is a forklift service the same as a LOLER examination?
No. A service is maintenance; a thorough examination is an independent check of whether the truck is safe to keep using. They can happen on the same visit, but the examiner should not be signing off their own repairs.
Do pallet trucks need LOLER?
Hand pallet trucks that lift only a few centimetres are usually treated as manual handling aids under PUWER rather than lifting equipment under LOLER. Powered stackers and order pickers with a mast do need a LOLER examination.
Who is responsible for a hired forklift?
The hire firm should supply the truck with a current report. On a long hire, agree in writing who arranges the next examination before the 12 months run out.
How much is a forklift LOLER test?
Usually £120 to £300 for the first truck before VAT, and £90 to £150 for each further truck on the same visit.
What paperwork should I get?
A report of thorough examination for each truck with the details listed in Schedule 1 of LOLER, including the safe working load, any defects and the latest date for the next examination. Many examiners also fix a dated tag to the truck.
Where our information comes from
Fee bands are our own reading of UK examiners’ published price lists and guides (2024 to 2026), which we do not name. Rules come from the regulations and HSE guidance below.
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2307), legislation.gov.uk
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2306), legislation.gov.uk
- HSE: Thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment
- HSE L113: Safe use of lifting equipment, Approved Code of Practice and guidance
- HSE L22: Safe use of work equipment, Approved Code of Practice and guidance
- HSE INDG422: Thorough examination of lifting equipment, a simple guide for employers
Request a forklift examination
Three short steps: where the equipment is, what it is, and how to reach you. About two minutes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- We will email or call to tell you which lifting equipment examiner covers your sites and your kind of equipment.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They agree the equipment list and dates with you and give you a written fee. No marketing from us, ever.