LOLER Inspection Services and More.

Are you a business based in the Midlands?

Do you use lifting equipment?

Then you should already be aware of our LOLER Inspection services.

Just in case you’re not… LOLER is the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It applies to your business if you own, operate or have control over lifting equipment.

Yaplex is fully LOLER compliant, as you would expect of a supplier of such equipment. But, not only are we compliant, we offer LOLER Inspection services for your existing equipment as well as that you purchase from us.

The Regulations

The regulations state:

LOLER requires lifting equipment is fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and, in many cases, subject to statutory periodic “thorough examination”.

So, who do you get to ensure that your equipment meets these requirements and to carry out the LOLER examination? Yaplex will do that for you!

The regulations stipulate that an examination should be completed before first use, and then every

• 12 months for lifting equipment
• 6 months for lifting accessories

In conjunction with LOLER, companies need to be aware of PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) which ensure all equipment is suitable for its intended use, safe for use, and only used by those who are trained to do so.

Your responsibility is to

Manage and control the risks to avoid any injury or damage. Where you undertake lifting operations involving lifting equipment you must

• Plan them properly
• Use people who are sufficiently competent
• Supervise them
• Ensure that they are carried out in a safe manner

 

Failure to comply with LOLER

Failure to comply with LOLER and PUWER can have SERIOUS implications for your business.

In 2015 a coach company, GHA Coaches Limited, was fined £250,000 for repeatedly failing to comply with the regulations by Wrexham Magistrates’ Court. An Improvement Notice was served on the company in 2011. Then in 2015, an inspection by the HSE recorded more than 14 overdue LOLER examinations. Even though the HSE served and extended an Improvement Notice, the company still failed to comply. They pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(3)(a)(ii) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and failing to comply with an Improvement Notice.

Yaplex LOLER Inspection Services

Not only do you need to adhere to regulations, but you also have a responsibility to your operators who are using lifting equipment. And, for most employers that is of equal importance for LOLER Inspection services.

The Inspection or LOLER Examination, as its also known, covers a wide range of machinery used for lifting, including overhead cranes, hoists, manipulators, crane attachments and forklifts. It also includes any below the hook lifting accessories.

Our team of hand-picked, professional engineers are all trained to complete “thorough examinations” required by LOLER. Some of the LOLER checks we make are:

• How robust your lifting equipment is – has the machinery you’re using been designed well and is it fit for use in terms of being able to lift the load it is used for?
• Whether your equipment meets health and safety requirements – has it been installed in a way which reduces risk of injury and does it have safety information marked on it?
• Has your lifting equipment been regularly inspected/service, and is it safe for continued use?

Your lifting equipment is required to be “thoroughly examined” in a number of situations, as well as the regular scheduled inspections. These include:

• If it is moved or reinstalled within your site or moved to another site.
• If it has been exposed to conditions which could cause deterioration.
• If any major repairs or modifications have been undertaken.

Your equipment is also required to have its Safe Working Loads (SWL) marked clearly on it. This is the maximum load the equipment can safely lift. Should this load vary depending on the configuration of the equipment, each configuration’s SWL is required to be shown.

Here at Yaplex, we offer LOLER Inspection and examinations on all types and makes of lifting equipment including specialist systems such as industrial manipulators.

 

Yaplex Training

Part of your responsibility under LOLER and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) is to have suitably trained and qualified operators using your lifting equipment.

You can achieve this by engaging us to train your operators. We cover all types of lifting equipment and our training is delivered on-site using your equipment to ensure operator competence. We can customise our training programmes to your business, including fitting the courses around your schedule. All our courses are accredited with a named certification for each successful participant.

If you would like to know more about our LOLER Inspection services or our training programmes, then please just get in touch with the team on 01246 860114 or sales@yaplex.co.uk