Ref LOLER reg 9(3)(a)Checked November 2026

LOLER Inspection Frequency

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 set two minimum intervals between thorough examinations: 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for all lifting accessories, and 12 months for everything else. A competent person can set other intervals in a written scheme of examination.

The table below puts the common items into the right column, with the cases where HSE guidance or a 2026 safety alert points to the shorter interval.

Lifts people: 6 monthsreg 9(3)(a)(i)
Lifting accessories: 6 monthsreg 9(3)(a)(i)
All other kit: 12 monthsreg 9(3)(a)(ii)
Written scheme: As setreg 9(3)(a)(iii)

Part 1

Intervals by equipment

Minimum intervals. Heavy use, harsh conditions or a written scheme can make them shorter.
Equipment	Category	Interval	Note
Patient hoists, stand aids, bath hoists	People	6 months	MHRA alert (2026): no more than six months
Passenger lifts, platform lifts, stairlifts	People	6 months	Supplementary tests as the examiner calls for
MEWPs, scissor lifts, boom lifts	People	6 months	Including hired machines on long hires
Forklift with an integrated work platform	People	6 months	Truck and platform
Tail lifts that a person rides on	People	6 months	Otherwise 12 months
Slings (web, round, chain, wire rope)	Accessories	6 months	Plus checks before each use
Shackles, eyebolts, hooks, swivels	Accessories	6 months	-
Spreader and lifting beams, clamps, magnets	Accessories	6 months	-
Vehicle lifts where mechanics work beneath	Beneath the load	6 months	HSE guidance; common trade practice
Forklifts, reach trucks, telehandlers	Loads only	12 months	Usually with a PUWER inspection
Overhead travelling cranes, gantries, jib cranes	Loads only	12 months	Often under a written scheme
Chain blocks, lever hoists, electric hoists	Loads only	12 months	-
Goods lifts and dumb waiters (no people)	Loads only	12 months	-
Tail lifts and lorry loaders	Loads only	12 months	-
Vehicle lifts where nobody works beneath	Loads only	12 months	Rare in a working garage

Part 2

Examinations that do not wait for the interval

Regulation 9 also requires a thorough examination at these points, whatever the last report says. Each one restarts the clock.

Before first use. Unless the item is new, unused and has a declaration of conformity made within the last 12 months.
After installation. Where safety depends on how it is installed: a hoist track, a crane runway, a lift. Again each time it is reinstalled at a new site.
After exceptional circumstances. Overload, collision, damage, major repair or modification, or a long spell out of use.
Where it is exposed to deterioration. Weather, chemicals, heavy duty cycles or vibration can call for shorter intervals or inspections in between.

Part 3

Fixed intervals or a written scheme?

The fixed intervals are simple and need no paperwork beyond the reports. A scheme suits large estates, cranes and equipment in hard conditions, where a competent person can tie each examination to how the item is really used.

How written schemes work

Fixed intervals: No set-up cost. Every item of a type on the same cycle, whatever its use.
Written scheme: A set-up fee, then intervals and scope per item. Must be followed and kept under review.

Questions about intervals

How often is a LOLER inspection required?

At least every 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories, and at least every 12 months for all other lifting equipment, unless a written scheme of examination sets different intervals.

Should LOLER be every 6 or 12 months?

Ask two questions. Does it lift people, or could people be beneath the load as part of normal work? Is it an accessory (sling, shackle, hook)? If yes to either, 6 months. If no to both, 12 months.

Is there a grace period after the due date?

No. The date on the report is the latest date for the next examination. After it, the equipment should not be used until it has been examined.

Does a new piece of equipment need examining straight away?

Not if it is new, has not been used, and comes with an EC or UKCA declaration of conformity made within the previous 12 months. It does if its safety depends on installation, such as a ceiling hoist track or a crane runway.

What counts as exceptional circumstances?

Anything likely to affect safety: an overload, a collision, a fall or drop, damage, a major repair or modification, or a long period out of use. The equipment needs a thorough examination before it goes back into service.

Do lifting accessories really need examining every 6 months?

Yes. Slings, shackles, hooks and similar accessories wear quickly and fail suddenly, which is why regulation 9(3)(a)(i) puts them on the shorter interval whatever they lift.

Where our information comes from

Get your examinations on the right cycle

Three short steps: where the equipment is, what it is, and how to reach you. About two minutes.

Step 1 of 3

Where is the equipment?

Postcode