Hi Craig

I think the answer to your question is "probably not".

Essentially this comes down to a question of whether or not the plant (which has failed with risk of causing injury) falls within the scope of LOLER or not.

I don't think the definition of "lifting equipment" in LOLER is particularly illuminating in the scenario you describe, so I have looked at the decision making graphic on page 12 of the ACOP and Guidance, L113 that supports LOLER and then the first sentence of paragraph of the Guidance.

Note that paragraph 30 of L113 has ACOP status, but paragraph 31 which cross references to para 31 does not have that status.

"31 In most cases LOLER will not apply to work equipment which does not have as its principal function a use for lifting or lowering."

Seems to me that whilst the ramp enables equipment to be lifted up or lowered down to/from one level and another and that sense supports a "load", it doesn't seem to me to be its "principal function".

If the load was e.g. a telehandler and it was being driven up or down a sloping road and the road gave way, then I don't think we would treat the road as being "lifting equipment". 

Should such an incident be a reportable "dangerous occurrence" under RIDDOR? Probably yes.

However I don't think it is covered. One of the many loopholes in the Regulations that HSE has never made much effort to get closed and isn't likely to do when under pressure from successive Governments to find ways of cutting "Red Tape".

i agree with Peter, not designed to lift, its to level (if i have understood correctly) so not LOLAR and as not lifting gear not a dangerouse occurance