Posted By warderic I have been informed that under the LOLER Regulations 1998 Regulation 9.(1)Thorough Examination and Inspection; there is a requirement for all lifting accessories to be examined every 6 months. The regulations say: (3) Subject to paragraph (6), every employer shall ensure that lifting equipment which is exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is - (a) thoroughly examined - (i) in the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons or an accessory for lifting, at least every 6 months; My interpretation is that this only applies to equipment that is exposed to conditions causing deterioration i.e. left outside to rust etc. All other equipment which is not exposed to conditions causing deterioration can be tested every 12 months as usual. Your opinions would be appreciated.

Posted By Pete48 Warderic, Equipment must be thoroughly inspected at least every six months if intended for carrying people, AT LEAST every 12 months if used for other purposes. A scheme devised by the competent examiner should identify periodicity/frequency of examination dependant on a number of factors one of which is the operating environment/conditions. It is not as simple as whether something is left outside to rust. I would counsel you very srongly to make sure that your lifting equipment is subject to an examination schedule that has been approved by a competent person. Most probably a competent mechanical engineer with experience in this area or maybe based on advice received from your insurers.(who will have consulted such persons) Examinations should also take place after any exceptional event such as accident or dangerous occurrence. Examinations should be carried out by competent persons who are sufficiently independent and impartial for objective decisions to be made.

Posted By Innes Gray The way i look at is Par 6 says every 6 month and 12 month examine the equipment. Now what the bit you quote says if it is working say on a North Sea Oil rig where you expect that salt spray may affect the working life you need to risk access the 6 Month 12 Month and drop it to 3 and 6 or even 1 and 3 Monthly. The 6 and 12 is the Max time. Just take a lifting strap i have bought new off the shelf and found the Cert that came with it to be out of date. So Storing or keeping straps and shackles and not using them your test Cert is running out. I would rather test that not test.

Posted By Pete48 Warderic. The periodicity for routine thorough examinations set into LOLER is:- Every 6 months for passenger lifts and other lifting equipment which lifts persons. Every 6 months for lifting accessories. Every 12 months for cranes and all other lifting equipment. These are the longest periods "allowed" between thorough examinations and are considered appropriate for most everyday situations such that if your risk assessment shows no special considerations then you do not need a written scheme of examination. These periods may however be varied, usually to shorter periods, if the competent person considers it appropriate. This is where the conditions likely to cause deterioration giving rise to danger come into play. Getting a bit of surface rust on forks is not a major concern, we are talking serious heavy duty use close to or at max load capacity, harsh environment, above normal wear in the identified service use etc. Wherever periods other than those in LOLER are used, a written examination scheme must be prepared and used to manage the examination programme. If this has been done, you would have a copy and should be able to refer to it. INSPECTIONS between the thorough examinations may also be required where the risk assessment identifies a need. These may consist of functional checks and visual examinations at suitable intervals. I am not able to comment on current best practice for FLT examinations, it used to be the case that the 6 monthly examination covered the whole truck but that may have changed. Check with your competent person, they will advise you I am sure.

Posted By Colin Hi Warderic, The LOLER term 'is exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations' is given a wide and objective interpretation. Its effective practical meaning is equipment that is subject to wear or deterioration i.e. equipment in use or available for use. LOLER does not therefore require inspection of lifting equipment that is not in use or available for use. Although, any equipment not in use would require inspection prior to its return to service. An assumption of LOLER is that equipment will not deteriorate to a dangerous condition within the respective 12-month or 6-month periods between inspections. If a risk of such deterioration exists the competent person is required to determine more frequent periodic inspections or other mitigating measures on a risk assessment basis. This is sometimes acheived by downrating the capacity of the equipment.