When does LOLER apply to waste and recycling equipment?
Added on: 31/08/2017
LOLER applies to lifting equipment provided for use as work equipment. Lifting equipment comprises any machinery used for lifting and lowering loads, and includes any supports or anchoring fixtures. It also applies to lifting accessories, which are pieces of equipment used to attach the load to lifting equipment, thereby providing a link between the two.
LOLER requires lifting equipment and accessories to be marked with the Safe Working Load (SWL) and/or a Working Load Limit (WLL) and be subject to statutory periodic 'thorough examination'. Equipment capable of lifting people should be thoroughly examined every six months. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to the person responsible for the equipment. If the defect is (or could become) a danger to people, then the relevant enforcing authority must also be notified. In addition all work equipment will require maintenance under PUWER regardless of whether it needs a thorough examination under LOLER.
Examples of how and when LOLER thorough examinations applies to plant and equipment commonly used within the Waste and Recycling Industry include:
| Type of plant/equipment | Thorough Examination required | Maximum frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle/trolley jacks | Yes | 12 months |
| Cranes | Yes | 12 months (Accessories - 6 months) |
| De-pollution rig (automatic type that physically lifts vehicles) | Yes | 12 months 6 months if persons lifted in vehicle |
| De-pollution rig (static type where vehicles are lifted onto it using other equipment) | No | But equipment used to lift vehicle should be thoroughly examined |
| Fork Lift Trucks | Yes | 12 months |
| High Lift Cabs | Yes | 6 months |
| Hook Loaders (including Roll-on Roll-off RORO) | Yes | 12 months |
| Hoist wires (e.g. attached to bottle bank etc.) | No | N/A |
| Material Handlers (e.g. 360o excavators) permanently fitted with grabs, forks, magnets etc. | Yes | 12 months |
| Material Handlers (e.g. 360o excavators) fitted with detachable grabs, forks or magnets etc. | Yes | Handler = 12 months Detachable accessories = 6 months |
| Refuse Collection Vehicles hoisting mechanisms | Yes | 12 months |
| Shovel loaders (that lift materials) | Yes | 12 months |
| Skips/containers | No | N/A |
| Skip loaders | Yes | 12 months Accessories = 6 months |
| Two/four post vehicle lift | Yes | 12 months 6 months if persons lifted in vehicle |
| Telehandler | Yes | 12 months |
