In short
PUWER, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, covers all work equipment, from hand tools and ladders to plant. Under PUWER, equipment must be suitable, kept in good repair, inspected where it can deteriorate and used only by people who are trained. LOLER, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, adds rules for lifting: every lift must be properly planned, supervised and carried out safely, and lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at set intervals.
Example
the borrowed sling
Kate runs a small roofing firm. On a terrace job, the team planned to lift tiles to the scaffold with a hired hoist and a sling borrowed from the bricklayers. Before work started, Kate asked for the paperwork. The hoist came with a current thorough examination report from the hire company, but there was nothing for the sling and its label was missing. She put it aside and hired a marked, examined sling instead. Her supervisor now checks reports and safe working load markings at the start of each day.
An illustrative example, not a real case.
PUWER: what it requires
PUWER applies to any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation used at work, including tools workers bring themselves. Employers must make sure work equipment is:
- Suitable for the work and the conditions it is used in (regulation 4).
- Maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair (regulation 5).
- Inspected after installation, and at suitable intervals where it can deteriorate and become dangerous, with the result recorded (regulation 6).
- Used only by people with adequate information, instructions and training, including their supervisors (regulations 8 and 9).
- Guarded or protected so that people cannot reach dangerous parts of machinery (regulation 11).
LOLER: what it adds for lifting
LOLER covers equipment that lifts or lowers loads, such as cranes, telehandlers, fork lifts, hoists and vehicle tail lifts, and accessories such as slings, chains, hooks and eyebolts. Employers must make sure that:
- Every lift is properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely (regulation 8).
- Lifting equipment and accessories are clearly marked with their safe working load (regulation 7).
- Equipment is thoroughly examined, in most cases before first use, and at regular intervals while in use (regulation 9).
- Defects reported by the examiner are put right before the equipment is used again, or by the date the examiner sets (regulation 10).
Thorough examination intervals
Lifting accessories, such as slings and chains
- Examine at least every
- 6 months
Equipment for lifting people, such as a mobile elevating work platform
- Examine at least every
- 6 months
Other lifting equipment, such as a telehandler or tail lift
- Examine at least every
- 12 months
Note: A competent person can draw up an examination scheme with different intervals instead. Equipment also needs examining after exceptional circumstances, such as damage, failure or a long period out of use (LOLER regulation 9(3)).
What you need to do
- 01
List your equipment
Record what you own or hire, from hand tools to lifting gear, and who checks each item.
- 02
Set the checks
Plan pre-use checks, inspections and examination dates using the maker's instructions and HSE guidance.
- 03
Plan each lift
Have a competent person plan every lift, in more detail for complex lifts.
- 04
Act on defects
Take faulty equipment out of use, label it and keep it out of use until it is repaired.
What the courts have said
Stark v Post Office [2000] ICR 1013
A postman was hurt when part of his work bicycle broke, although it had been sensibly maintained and checked. The Court of Appeal held the duty to keep work equipment in good repair is strict; regulation 5 of PUWER 1998 uses the same words, although since October 2013 compensation claims usually need proof of negligence.
Common questions
What is the difference between PUWER and LOLER?
PUWER applies to all work equipment. LOLER applies on top of PUWER to lifting equipment and lifting operations, adding rules on planning lifts, marking and thorough examination.
How often does lifting equipment need a thorough examination?
At least every 6 months for lifting accessories and equipment for lifting people, and every 12 months for other lifting equipment, unless an examination scheme sets other intervals. Examine it again after damage or other exceptional circumstances.
Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?
A competent person with the practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to find defects and judge how serious they are. HSE says it should not be the person who does the routine maintenance on that equipment.
Can we use lifting equipment borrowed from another firm?
Only with evidence of its last thorough examination. Lifting equipment from another business must not be used without it (LOLER regulation 9(4)).
Does PUWER apply to workers' own tools?
Yes. HSE says work equipment includes equipment employees provide for their own use at work. So their own drills, saws and ladders must be suitable for the job and kept in good repair, just like equipment you provide (PUWER, regulations 3 to 5). Include workers' own tools in your checks.
What is a LOLER certificate?
It is the written report of a thorough examination. It must contain the information in Schedule 1 of LOLER, including the date of the examination, when the next one is due and any defect that is or could become a danger (regulation 10). You must keep reports of regular examinations until the next report is made, or for two years if that is later (regulation 11).
What happens if a thorough examination finds a dangerous defect?
The examiner must tell you straight away. You must not use the equipment until a defect that is already a danger is put right, and a defect that could become a danger must be fixed by the time the examiner sets, or the equipment taken out of use. If there is an existing or imminent risk of serious injury, the examiner must also send a copy of the report to the enforcing authority, such as HSE (LOLER regulation 10).
Does lifting equipment need to be load tested?
Not routinely. HSE says most lifting equipment does not need routine testing as part of a thorough examination, and some overload tests can damage it. The competent person decides whether testing is needed, and how, based on the risk and the manufacturer's information.
How NXT-HSE can help
NXT-HSE can review your equipment records and lifting plans, and help you set up checks that fit your work. Your legal duties stay with your business.
Sources
- PUWER 1998, regulation 5: maintenance
- LOLER 1998, regulation 9: thorough examination
- HSE: PUWER overview
- HSE: LOLER overview
- HSE: thorough examination of lifting equipment
- HSE: thorough examination, a simple guide for employers (INDG422)
- LOLER 1998, regulation 10: reports and defects
- LOLER 1998, regulation 11: keeping of information
Sources checked 28 September 2026 against current Health and Safety Executive guidance and legislation. This guide is general information, not legal advice; your legal duties stay with your business.