Lift maintenance learning hub
Lift Maintenance
Statutory LOLER thorough examinations, planned preventative maintenance, callout SLAs and entrapment response, the day-to-day compliance of passenger and goods lifts.
In short
Every passenger lift needs a LOLER thorough examination every six months by a competent person independent of the maintainer. Reports of Defect (RIDDOR-reportable defects) must be actioned immediately. Failure to hold a valid LOLER report is enforcement territory.
Legal snapshot
What the law says
- LOLER 1998, regulation 9
- Thorough examination of passenger-carrying lifts every 6 months; goods lifts every 12 months.
- PUWER 1998
- General duty to maintain work equipment in efficient working order and good repair.
- Lifts Regulations 2016
- Placing on the market of new lifts and safety components, CE / UKCA conformity.
- BS EN 13015 + BS 7255
- Maintenance instructions for lifts and safe working on lifts.
On the ground
Common problems & fixes
- LOLER report overdueFix, Appoint a UKAS-accredited independent Competent Person immediately; the lift should not be in service without a current report.
- Report of Defect not actionedFix, Treat as a stop-work notice: isolate, brief the maintainer, evidence remediation before returning to service.
- Entrapment response above 30 minutesFix, Move to a maintainer offering a 30-minute entrapment SLA, backed by SAFed accreditation.
- Log book missing from motor roomFix, Digital log with monthly PPM records satisfies the Competent Person on visit day.
LOLER Thorough Examinations for Lifts: Duty Holder Guide
Six-monthly LOLER thorough examinations, Reports of Defect, RIDDOR notification and choosing a competent independent examiner under LOLER 1998.
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Frequently asked
- How often is a LOLER thorough examination?
- Every 6 months for passenger-carrying lifts and every 12 months for goods-only lifts, unless a written scheme of examination sets different intervals.
- Can my maintainer do the LOLER inspection?
- The Competent Person must be sufficiently independent of the maintainer to give an objective assessment. Most duty holders use a separate insurance-appointed inspector.
- What is a Report of Defect?
- An immediate notification under LOLER Schedule 1 that a lift presents an existing or imminent risk of serious injury. The HSE must be notified and the defect rectified before further use.
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