LOLER
inspection
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
Regulation 9 of LOLER puts in place requirements for all lifting equipment to be subject to ‘thorough examination’ at various points. In the case of equipment used for lifting persons or an accessory for lifting, this should be carried out at least every 6 months.
For other lifting equipment the period is at least every 12 months.
At its most basic and as far as arboriculture is concerned, as well as pre-use checks and interim inspections by the operator, this means 6 monthly climbing kit inspections and 12 monthly rigging equipment examinations and reports by a competent person are required by HSE. This is because LOLER has links with other legislation such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (PPEWR), Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
With over 20 years’ experience in arboriculture and industrial rope access both on and offshore around the world, and the NPTC certificate of competence in the Thorough Inspection of Arboricultural Equipment (gained in 2007), Nick Dunbar of The Whole Tree Company offers independent, impartial LOLER examinations and reports of your climbing, lifting and lowering equipment.
