LOLER regulation 9 requires passenger-carrying lifts to be thoroughly examined every 6 months (goods lifts every 12 months) by a competent person independent of the maintainer. A lift without a current LOLER report should not be in service. Reports of Defect are RIDDOR-reportable and demand immediate action.
What LOLER requires
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads — including passenger lifts. Regulation 9 requires:
- Passenger-carrying lifts: thorough examination every 6 months
- Lifts lifting goods only: every 12 months
- Or in accordance with a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person
A thorough examination is not the same as routine servicing. It is a systematic, formal examination by a competent person independent of the maintainer, resulting in a written report.
Independence
The Approved Code of Practice (L113) is explicit: the competent person must be "sufficiently independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made." In practice this rules out your maintenance contractor conducting your LOLER inspection. Duty holders use:
- An insurance-appointed engineer surveyor
- A dedicated inspection body accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17020
- A SAFed member firm operating a UKAS-accredited scheme
The report
The LOLER report must specify:
- Date of examination
- Identity of the competent person and their organisation
- Whether the lift was safe for continued use
- Any defects that are or could become a danger
- The date by which each defect must be rectified
- The next examination date
Reports must be sent to the duty holder within 28 days and retained for at least 2 years.
Reports of Defect
If the competent person finds a defect that presents an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, they issue a Report of Defect and notify the HSE. Under LOLER regulation 10, this is RIDDOR-reportable. The lift must be taken out of service immediately and remain out of service until the defect is rectified and the competent person confirms it is safe to return to use.
Common defect categories
- Suspension ropes with broken wires or excessive wear
- Brake components not adjusted to specification
- Overspeed governor not tripping at rated speed
- Safety gear failing the test drop
- Landing door interlocks fouled or overridden
- Machine room fire compartmentation breached
Sitting alongside PUWER
PUWER 1998 imposes the underlying duty to maintain work equipment in efficient working order and good repair. LOLER is the specific regime for lifting equipment. Both apply in parallel: PUWER covers day-to-day maintenance and safe use; LOLER covers periodic thorough examination.
Choosing an independent examiner
Look for SAFed membership, UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020, and professional indemnity cover appropriate to the portfolio value. A good examiner will publish attendance SLAs (typically 5 working days for a scheduled examination, 24 hours for a defect re-verification).
Evidence pack
- Current LOLER report for every lift
- Register of lifts with next-due dates
- Maintenance log for the past 12 months
- Records of any Reports of Defect and remediation
- Competent person accreditation certificate
- Insurance schedule showing engineering inspection cover
A lift without a current LOLER report is out of compliance regardless of how well it runs. The examination is the evidence — not the condition.
Frequently asked
How often is a LOLER thorough examination?
Every 6 months for passenger-carrying lifts, every 12 months for goods-only lifts, unless a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person sets a different interval.
Can my lift maintainer also do the LOLER inspection?
The competent person must be sufficiently independent of the maintainer to give an objective assessment. In practice, duty holders use an insurance-appointed inspector or a dedicated inspection body — not the maintainer.
What is a Report of Defect?
A notification under LOLER Schedule 1 that a lift presents an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury. It is RIDDOR-reportable and the lift must be taken out of service until rectified.
What is a written scheme of examination?
An alternative to the default 6/12-month intervals — a bespoke examination regime drawn up by a competent person, based on the lift's use and risk profile, and reviewed periodically.
Sources & further reading
