Plant safety: lOLER

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations or LOLER is a comprehensive set of regulations that covers all aspects of lifting for a wide variety of different types of equipment used in the United Kingdom.  The LOLER guidelines are administered by the Health and Safety Executive (further details can be found here) and are defined in Regulation 2 (1) as 'work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it'.

The LOLER regulations set out the responsibility of those involved in lifting operations, including the employer, the employee and those in control of the quipment being used in the lifting operation.

The LOLER regulations cover the following aspects of lifting operations:

• The integrity of the equipment being used both on a primary and ongoing basis
• The planning and risk assessment of all operations
• Safe operation of equipment being used in lifting operations

The equipment that require a LOLER certificate are:

• Cranes
• Telescopic handlers
• Tail lifts
• Hoists
• Eye bolts