LOLER, Competent Persons and Duty Holders explained.

As COMPETENT PERSONS we are able to carry out THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS on your lifts. We have included below some information which we hope will be of assistance if you are a lift owner or the person responsible for the safe operation of a lift used at work, for example a facilities manager or supervisor.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), which came into force on 5th December 1998, were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act). LOLER implements the lifting provisions of the Amending Directive to the Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED) (951631EC).

LOLER consolidated the requirements for the safe Provision and use of lifting equipment. Regulation 9 of LOLER requires that all lifts provided for use in work activities be thoroughly examined by a COMPETENT PERSON at regular intervals.

This applies to lifts and hoists used to lift people or loads.

LOLER Examination
LOLER Examination

If you are responsible for the safe operation of a lift then you are a DUTY HOLDER under LOLER. You have a duty of care and legal responsibility to ensure every passenger lift, goods lift and service lift has a THOROUGH EXAMINATION at least once or twice per annum dependent on the unit being examined.

This is in addition to the routine maintenance schedule, which obviously affects the safety and reliability of the lift.

The THOROUGH EXAMINATION is a systematic and detailed examination of the lift and all its associated equipment, to be carried out by a COMPETENT PERSON who is someone who has sufficient technical and practical knowledge of the lift to be able to detect any defects and assess how significant they are to determine if the lift is safe for continued use.

Any defects are to be reported to the duty holder and if appropriate, the enforcing authority ie. The Health & Safety Executive or Local Authority so the appropriate actions can be taken.

Role of the DUTY HOLDER:

  • Maintaining the lift so it is safe to use
  • Selecting and instructing the COMPETENT PERSON
  • Ensuring the lift is examined at statutory intervals
  • Keeping the competent person informed of any changes in the lift operation
  • Making all relevant documentation available
  • Acting promptly to remedy any defects
  • Ensuring that all documentation complies with the regulations
  • Accurate record keeping

It is important to realise that THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS are MANDATORY.