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LOLER inspection checklist
A thorough examination record for lifting equipment under LOLER. Record the examiner, the employer and their address, then add each item: scan its plate or tag, record its type, location, safe working load, date of manufacture if known, the date of its last thorough examination, whether it lifts people and the basis of the examination. Record the result, the defects and the date to fix them, and the next examination date. The form warns on dangerous defects, counts the items with defects, and ends with the examiner's qualifications and signature. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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How often is a LOLER thorough examination needed?
Where lifting equipment is exposed to conditions that cause deterioration, LOLER regulation 9 requires equipment for lifting people, and lifting accessories such as slings and shackles, to be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months, and other lifting equipment at least every 12 months, unless an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person sets different intervals. Equipment also needs examining after installation where its safety depends on how it is installed, and after exceptional circumstances that could affect its safety.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against regulation 9 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (thorough examination), regulation 10 of LOLER 1998 (reports and defects), Schedule 1 to LOLER 1998 (information in a thorough examination report) and HSE: thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment.
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Every question in the LOLER inspection template
A LOLER thorough examination record: each item of lifting equipment with its identity, SWL, the basis of the examination, defects, whether they are dangerous, the next examination date and the examiner's declaration. 3 sections and 57 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
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This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
Examination
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Examination date*Date
- TimeTime
- Competent person (examiner)*Short answer
- CompanyShort answer
- Company addressShort answer
- Is the examiner self-employed or employed?Choose one
- Self-employed
- Employed by the company above
- Employer the report is forShort answer
- Employer addressShort answer
- GuidanceLOLER regulation 9: where lifting equipment is exposed to conditions that cause deterioration liable to result in dangerous situations, it must be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months if it lifts people or is a lifting accessory, at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment, or in line with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person. It must also be examined each time exceptional circumstances liable to affect its safety have occurred, and, where its safety depends on how it is installed, after installation and before first use.
Equipment
- Equipment by building or areaRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- Building or area*Short answer
For example Warehouse bay 3 or Workshop
- Equipment examined hereRepeat for each item. Each one asks:
- Identification or asset number*Short answer
- Scan the plate or tagScan a label: serial number, asset number, swl
Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
- Type*Choose one
- Hoist
- Overhead crane
- Mobile crane
- Forklift mast and chains
- MEWP
- Passenger or goods lift
- Vehicle tail lift
- Patient hoist
- Lifting accessory (sling, shackle, eyebolt)
- Other
- Chain sling
- Wire rope sling
- Webbing sling
- Shackle
- Eyebolt
- Position in this areaShort answer
- Safe working loadShort answer
- Date of manufacture (if known)Short answer
- Date of the last thorough examinationDate
- Days since the last thorough examinationWorked out by the formShown when “Date of the last thorough examination” is answered and “Examination date” is answered
- Used to lift people?Yes or No
- ExaminationChoose one
- Every 6 months
- Every 12 months
- In line with an examination scheme
- After exceptional circumstances
- After installation, before first use
- CheckEquipment for lifting people, and lifting accessories, need examining at least every 6 months unless an examination scheme says otherwise.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckThe last thorough examination was more than 6 months before this one. On a 6-month basis (LOLER regulation 9(3)(a)(i)) the equipment was overdue: record why, and whether it was used while overdue.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckThe last thorough examination was more than 12 months before this one. On a 12-month basis (LOLER regulation 9(3)(a)(ii)) the equipment was overdue: record why, and whether it was used while overdue.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Result*Choose one
- Safe to use
- Defect to fix by a set date
- Dangerous defect: do not use
- Defects found and repairs neededNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Fix byDateShown when “Result” is “Defect to fix by a set date”
- Days allowed to put it rightWorked out by the formShown when “Result” is “Defect to fix by a set date” and “Fix by” is answered and “Examination date” is answered
- Particulars of any test carried out as part of the examinationNotes
For example a load test, its load and the result. Write None if no test was carried out.
- WarningDangerous defect. The examiner must tell the employer straight away, and where there is an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, send a copy of the report to the enforcing authority as soon as practicable. The employer must make sure the equipment is not used until the defect is put right.Shown when “Result” is “Dangerous defect: do not use”
- Latest date for the next thorough examinationDate
LOLER Schedule 1 asks for the latest date by which the next thorough examination must be carried out. On a 6 or 12-month basis it is no later than 6 or 12 months from this examination; under an examination scheme, use the date the scheme sets.
- Days from this examination to the nextWorked out by the formShown when “Latest date for the next thorough examination” is answered and “Examination date” is answered
- WarningThe next examination date is more than 6 months after this one. On a 6-month basis the latest date is 6 months from this examination, unless an examination scheme applies.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- WarningThe next examination date is more than 12 months after this one. On a 12-month basis the latest date is 12 months from this examination, unless an examination scheme applies.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- PhotosPhotos
- it_f_safeWorked out by the form
- it_f_defectWorked out by the form
- it_f_dangerWorked out by the form
- it_f_overdueWorked out by the form
- it_f_lateWorked out by the form
- This building or area: items examinedWorked out by the form
- This building or area: safe to useWorked out by the form
- This building or area: defects to fix by a set dateWorked out by the form
- This building or area: dangerous defectsWorked out by the form
- This building or area: overdue at this examinationWorked out by the form
- This building or area: next date later than the intervalWorked out by the form
- Items examinedWorked out by the form
- Safe to useWorked out by the form
- Defects to fix by a set dateWorked out by the form
- Dangerous defectsWorked out by the form
- Overdue at this examinationWorked out by the form
- Next date later than the intervalWorked out by the form
- WarningAt least one item has a dangerous defect. The examiner tells the employer straight away, and the employer makes sure it is not used until the defect is put right (LOLER regulation 10).Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- WarningAt least one next examination date is later than the 6 or 12-month interval allows. Check the dates before the report is issued.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Declaration
- CheckLOLER regulation 10: the examiner makes an authenticated written report containing the information in Schedule 1, as soon as practicable, for the employer and for anyone the equipment is hired or leased from. Schedule 1 includes the date of the report and the name and address of anyone signing or authenticating it for the examiner. This form is a site record of the examination; check every Schedule 1 item is present before it is issued as the report.
- Examiner name*Short answer
- PositionShort answer
- Examiner qualificationsShort answer
- Examiner signatureSignature
- Name of the person signing or authenticating the report for the examinerShort answer
Only if someone other than the examiner signs the report on their behalf.
- Address of that personShort answer
- Date of the reportDate
- Received for the employer byShort answer
- SignatureSignature
See it filled in
A completed LOLER inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
LOLER inspection FAQs
What happens if a dangerous defect is found?
Under regulation 10, the examiner must tell the employer straight away about any defect that is or could become a danger. Where there is an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, the examiner also sends a copy of the report to the enforcing authority. The employer must make sure the equipment is not used until the defect is put right.
What does the report need to contain?
LOLER Schedule 1 lists 11 items, including the employer's name and address, details to identify the equipment and its date of manufacture where known, the date of the last thorough examination, the safe working load, any defects and the repairs needed, and the examiner's name and qualifications. The form asks for these, and the report goes to the employer as a PDF or a link.
Who can do a thorough examination?
A competent person with the practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the equipment to find defects and judge how serious they are. HSE says they must be independent and impartial enough to judge without fear or favour, and should not be the person who does the routine maintenance.
Does it cover lifting accessories?
Yes. Slings, shackles and eyebolts are lifting accessories and need examining at least every 6 months unless an examination scheme sets other intervals. The form warns if an accessory, or equipment that lifts people, is on a 12-month cycle.
Can I scan the equipment tag?
Yes. Scan the plate or tag on the SiteSurvey app to capture the serial or asset number and SWL.
Who uses this?
Engineer surveyors and inspection bodies, lifting equipment companies, plant hire firms, and site and maintenance managers.
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