LOLER Inspections 

What is LOLER testing?

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) are a legal requirement for thorough examination of Arboricultural equipment, carried out by a qualified inspector. LOLER is designed to make sure that all Lifting Operations are properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. All businesses and organizations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether owned by them or not, require LOLER inspections. This is applicable across many industries, including arboriculture.

How often do LOLER tests need to be done?

LOLER tests should be carried out every 6 months on climbing equipment and every 12 months on rigging equipment, or if there have been any “exceptional circumstances” which may have compromised the safety of the equipment.

As well as regular examinations carried out by qualified inspectors, Arborists should be trained to carry out a daily pre-use check of their lifting equipment and a written weekly record of inspection should be kept.

What is a LOLER certificate?

A LOLER certificate is a written report produced as PDF format that is completed with each thorough inspection. This report should contain:

• The date of first inspection
• The date of examination 
• The date when the next thorough inspection is due
• The date of the report
• The details of each item such as date of manufacture, Identification number or code, sizes, safe working load
• Any defects or safety issues found with any of the items
• Whether each item is safe for use or not (PASS or FAIL)

Before the LOLER inspection

• Gather your instructions which came with your kit to be inspected 
• Ensure your material items have markings (any items with no markings cannot be inspected)
• Keep ends of ropes if you’ve cut them off so markings can be matched up where possible and there is a clear link to both parts
• Please ensure the kit and bag are clean/dry and debris-free before presenting for inspection
• Please take all equipment apart, undo all knots, etc.
• Please ensure you only include LOLER items in your kit bag i.e., no wedges, spikes, saws, throwlines etc. 

It is possible that some items may fail inspection due to faulty/unsafe consumable parts or due to needing a service/repair, examples of this are:

• Harness failing due to delaminated bridge or age
• Rope grab failing due to the safety wire missing or worn
• Rope failing due to abrasion, flattening, melting/burns
• Karabiners failing due to needing a service / lubrication / deformation / gate mechanism issue
• Contaminated i.e., chemicals, fuel

If this happens, the product will fail on this inspection.

If you then correct / repair the item, you can then bring the item back for a second inspection and a new certificate for the repaired items. Therefore, we offer the Re-LOLER of failed items at further cost.