LOLER 1998 Awareness

LOLER 1998 is the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations that govern all lifting on construction sites.
It applies to any equipment used to lift or lower loads, including cranes, hoists, telehandlers, and slings.
Every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person before it takes place.
Lifting equipment must have a current thorough examination certificate, usually renewed every 12 months.
Lifting accessories including slings, shackles, and chains require thorough examination every 6 months.
A safe working load (SWL) must be clearly marked on all lifting equipment and accessories.
The appointed person plans the lift, the lift supervisor controls it on site, and the slinger attaches loads.
LOLER applies to personnel lifting in baskets or cages, which requires even stricter controls.
Records of thorough examinations, lift plans, and defect reports must be kept and available for inspection.
Failure to comply with LOLER can result in HSE prosecution, prohibition notices, and imprisonment.

Prevent dropped loads	Unplanned lifts, defective equipment, and overloading cause loads to drop, crushing and killing workers below.
Legal compliance	LOLER 1998 is a criminal law regulation. Non-compliance leads to prosecution, fines, and potential imprisonment.
Equipment integrity	Thorough examination identifies defects before they cause failure. Without it, equipment degrades until it breaks under load.

Do

Don't

Plan every lifting operation with a competent appointed person before it begins.
Check that all lifting equipment has a current thorough examination certificate.
Verify that lifting accessories have been examined within the last 6 months.
Confirm the safe working load is marked on all equipment before each lift.
Appoint a lift supervisor to control the lifting operation on site.
Use only trained and competent slingers to attach and detach loads.
Report any defects in lifting equipment immediately and take it out of service.
Keep records of all thorough examinations, lift plans, and defect reports.
Apply stricter controls when lifting personnel in baskets or cages.
Brief the lifting team on the plan, signals, and exclusion zones before each lift.

DON'T lift any load without a plan prepared by a competent appointed person.
DON'T use lifting equipment without a current thorough examination certificate.
DON'T exceed the safe working load marked on any lifting equipment or accessory.
DON'T use lifting accessories that have not been examined in the last 6 months.
DON'T allow untrained persons to act as slingers or signal to crane operators.
DON'T ignore defects in slings, shackles, or chains; remove them from service.
DON'T lift personnel without the enhanced controls LOLER requires for man-riding.
DON'T assume a visual check replaces the legal requirement for thorough examination.
DON'T carry out a lift without a lift supervisor controlling the operation.
DON'T destroy or lose thorough examination records; they are legal documents.

See also: Lifting Operations Awareness (LOLER) | Lift Plan Requirements

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