Two attachment mistakes could put your LOLER compliance at risk

If you use a side shift, bale grab, safety cage or other lifting attachment, it’s important to rule out two common Thorough Examination mistakes which could put your people, and your business, at risk.

Misunderstandings over the rules

While Thorough Examination awareness is growing, attachments remain a worrying area of oversight, meaning that some businesses who have valid Thorough Examinations for their trucks are still at risk of HSE prosecution.

Attachments to be checked include:

• Side shifts
• Rotator arms
• Access platforms
• Bale grabs
• Safety cages

Which are all used with lift trucks, tractors, telehandlers, and more.

With tens of thousands of attachments in use across the UK, it’s obvious how crucial they are to many daily operations. And with attachments being so critical to lifting safely — a sudden failure of an access platform or sling could lead directly to a major accident.

In addition, using an attachment that isn’t in optimal condition means it’s prone to degrade faster, and force you to shell out on a replacement piece of equipment.

What does LOLER say?

The first misunderstanding we see frequently is what the rules actually are.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) recognises the importance of attachment inspections by mentioning them as a specific distinction from the truck itself.

LOLER regulations require lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined at regular intervals, separate to the equipment they work on. And because of the kind of work these attachments are all involved in, they generally require more frequent inspections than the equipment they’re attached to, contrary to the belief that they can simply follow the same inspection schedule as the equipment they are attached to.

Hiding your equipment invalidates a Thorough Examination

While we know that these rules are sometimes missed by users of equipment, we’ve also seen cases of attachments being intentionally hidden so that they aren’t included in a Thorough Examination out of fear of failure.

Arranging a Thorough Examination just to hide equipment and still operate in a non-compliant way is a very backward school of thought. If an uninspected attachment fails and causes a major injury, your Thorough Examination certificate for other equipment won’t protect you.

And even further, if the HSE find out you’ve intentionally dodged the inspection by hiding equipment, conviction is all but a certainty.   

The numbers don’t lie

If you aren’t having attachments inspected appropriately, HSE’s statistics make for daunting reading.

Since 2020, they have had a conviction rate of 94% which has risen to 96% in 2025. Courts are adopting a similarly robust approach with the average fine having doubled in the last decade.

These are intended to have significant economic impact on your business with fines frequently reaching 6 or even 7 figures. Simply put, one incident with an uninspected attachment could end your business. Using a non-compliant piece of machinery is not worth the risk.

How we can help

We have lots of experts who can help you get it right, so that you’re covered and safe. When booking an inspection, you should talk openly with your inspector about the kinds of work you do and the different attachments you use.    

With over 800 CFTS-accredited members nationwide, it’s easy to find a local expert who ensures your attachments are put through a truly Thorough Examination.

Find your nearest accredited company — CFTS Thorough Examination.