LOLER 98 (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)

What is a LOLER inspection for a forklift truck?

If you've been told your forklift needs a "LOLER inspection", you've been given the right idea in slightly imprecise language. The correct term is a Thorough Examination — the mandatory inspection required by law under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly known as LOLER.

The two terms mean the same thing in everyday use. A LOLER inspection is a Thorough Examination. What matters is whether the one you're getting is actually a complete one — because many aren't.

What does LOLER require?

LOLER Regulation 9 sets out the legal requirement clearly. Every employer must ensure that lifting equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration is thoroughly examined:

• At least every 12 months for standard lifting equipment, including most forklift trucks
• At least every 6 months for lifting equipment used to lift people, or for lifting accessories
• Following any exceptional circumstances — such as an accident, overloading, significant impact, or a change of use — that could jeopardise the safety of the equipment
• In accordance with an examination scheme if one has been agreed with a competent person, which may specify different intervals

The examination must be carried out by a competent person: someone with the appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to examine the equipment and identify defects that are, or might become, dangerous.

After the examination, the competent person must produce a written Report of Thorough Examination. This is a statutory document. It is not a service record. It is not a maintenance invoice. It must be headed Report of Thorough Examination and must comply with Schedule 1 of LOLER.

But LOLER alone isn't the whole story

Here is where most forklift operators — and, frankly, many examiners — get it wrong.

A LOLER-only inspection covers the lifting components of the truck: the mast, forks, chains, carriage, and tilt mechanism. It does not cover the vehicle itself. Brakes. Steering. Tyres. Overhead guard. Seat mountings. None of these fall under LOLER.

They fall under PUWER — the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

An employer whose truck has received a LOLER-only inspection has met part of their legal duty. The other part — the PUWER part — remains unmet. That's a legal exposure. And it's a safety exposure too: a truck with worn brakes or compromised steering is dangerous whether or not its forks have been inspected.

The Health and Safety Executive states plainly:

"Thorough examination of industrial lift trucks is required under health and safety law: LOLER 1998, which covers lifting equipment, and PUWER 1998, which deals with all other safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres."

A genuine Thorough Examination covers both. A CFTS Thorough Examination always does.

What does a LOLER inspection actually cover?

Under a full Thorough Examination — covering both LOLER and PUWER — a competent person will inspect:

Lifting components (LOLER):

• Mast and mast channels
• Fork arms and fork carriage
• Lifting chains — with detailed measurements to identify wear and elongation
• Tilt mechanism and tilt cylinders
• Hydraulic system
• Attachments and lifting accessories

Vehicle components (PUWER):

• Brakes — service and parking
• Steering
• Tyres
• Overhead guard and load backrest
• Seat and seat mountings
• Lights and warning devices
• Structural integrity

Particular attention is paid to chain-retaining bolts, the mast, and the carriage — components where undetected wear can have serious consequences. Detailed measurements are taken, not just a visual check.

The time taken varies by truck type. This is not a box-ticking exercise.

What happens after the examination?

Two possible outcomes:

Defects found that don't immediately affect safety. The Report of Thorough Examination is issued, but it will identify the defects and state a date by which they must be rectified. You are responsible for ensuring repairs are carried out within that timeframe.

Defects found that represent an imminent danger. The report will state that the equipment must not be used until the defects are rectified. A copy of the report will normally be sent to the relevant enforcing authority — usually the HSE or local authority.

You have the right to challenge a competent person's findings and seek clarification. But failing to act on those findings is a potential breach of LOLER regulations, carrying the risk of significant fines or prosecution.

Who is responsible for LOLER compliance?

The responsibility for obtaining a valid Report of Thorough Examination lies with the employer of the truck operator — whether you own, lease or hire the truck on a long-term basis.

If your truck is provided on a short-term contract of less than a year, the hire company should provide a copy of the current Report. But the operator's employer still has a duty to satisfy themselves that a valid report exists.

Every truck you have in service must have a current Report of Thorough Examination. You must be able to produce it when required by an enforcement officer.

Is a regular service the same as a LOLER inspection?

No. This is one of the most common misunderstandings in the industry.

A routine service or maintenance inspection — however thorough — is not a Thorough Examination under LOLER. The HSE is explicit about this: "Your regular inspections as part of a preventive maintenance scheme or scheduled service are not a thorough examination."

They are separate legal requirements. A truck can be fully serviced and still be non-compliant with LOLER if no Thorough Examination has been carried out. Equally, a Thorough Examination does not replace scheduled maintenance.

The two can be carried out on the same visit by the same competent person — but the Thorough Examination must be completed and documented first, before any servicing takes place.

The CFTS standard for LOLER compliance

CFTS is the UK forklift industry's national accreditation scheme for Thorough Examination. It was developed by the industry's leading trade associations, in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive, specifically to solve the problem of inconsistent and incomplete examinations.

A CFTS Thorough Examination always covers both LOLER and PUWER. It is carried out by a named, registered competent person with a minimum of five years' experience as a service engineer in a relevant sector. The examination follows a strict Quality Assurance Procedural Code. The resulting report bears the distinctive CFTS mark — the industry standard guarantee of a full and valid examination.

The CFTS mark is the only quality standard in this field that has the full backing of the relevant industry trade associations.

Without it, your certificate may not be worth the paper it's printed on.

[Find a CFTS-accredited examiner near you]

Frequently asked questions about LOLER inspections

How often does a forklift need a LOLER inspection?
Most forklift trucks require a Thorough Examination at least every 12 months. Trucks used to lift people, and all lifting accessories, require examination every 6 months. An examination scheme agreed with a competent person can specify different intervals based on use, environment, and intensity of operation.

Does a hired forklift need a LOLER inspection?
Yes. Every forklift in service must have a valid Report of Thorough Examination, whether owned or hired. For short-term hire (less than 12 months), the hire company should provide a copy of the current report. For longer-term arrangements, responsibility should be clearly agreed between hire company and operator's employer.

Can my insurer's engineer carry out the LOLER inspection?
You are not legally required to use your insurer's inspectors. You are free to make your own arrangements. Whoever carries out the examination must be a competent person, and the resulting document must be a Report of Thorough Examination complying with Schedule 1 of LOLER — regardless of who produces it.

What should a Report of Thorough Examination contain?
The report must comply with Schedule 1 of LOLER and include: the name and address of the employer; where the examination took place; particulars identifying the equipment; the date of the last examination; safe working load; any defects found and their urgency; the date the next examination is due; and the name of the competent person. It must be headed Report of Thorough Examination.

What is the difference between a LOLER inspection and a PUWER inspection?
LOLER covers the lifting components of a forklift — mast, forks, chains, hydraulics. PUWER covers everything else — brakes, steering, tyres, guard, structure. A genuine Thorough Examination covers both. A LOLER-only inspection leaves the vehicle components unchecked and the employer potentially non-compliant.