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What this means for your business

8 obligations

7 penalties

7 can imprison

8 guides

Enforced by: HSE
Applies to: United Kingdom
On this page: 8 compliance obligations, 8 practical guides across 3 topics

Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

8 compliance obligations under this legislation — 7 can result in imprisonment.

Equipment and safety 3

If your business uses lifts, hoists or other lifting gear, you must make sure that the equipment can safely handle any load you intend to lift. The machinery must not only have the right load‑rating but also be fitted securely, so the mounting points can take the stresses it generates. This is a day‑to‑day check that every lift you carry out must be safe before you start.

Employer s.4 HSE Whenever lifting equipment is used to move a load

As an employer you must make sure every piece of lifting plant – cranes, hoists, slings, hooks and any accessories – is clearly labelled with its safe working load (SWL). If the load limit changes with the equipment’s configuration you must either label each configuration or keep a document with the SWL attached. You also need clear labels showing whether the equipment is designed to lift people or not, to prevent accidental misuse.

Employer s.7 HSE

When your business lifts people, you must make sure the lifters are safe. They should stop anyone from being trapped, crushed or falling, and the lift itself should be checked every day if it could fall anyway due to the site or height. This keeps staff and anyone on the carrier protected while they work.

Employer s.5 HSE lifting a person with a lifting carrier

Inspections 1

You must have all lifting equipment checked for defects before you first use it, after it’s installed, and regularly thereafter (at least every 6 months for equipment that lifts people and every 12 months for other equipment, or as set out in your examination scheme). Any time there’s an incident, you move the equipment to a new site, or you suspect damage, you must arrange another thorough examination. Between these examinations a competent person must also inspect the equipment and you must keep evidence of the latest examination when the equipment is transferred or used.

Employer s.9 HSE when you use lifting equipment in your business

Management duties 3

If a lifting device is found to be defective, you must stop using it straight away, have the fault fixed before it can be used again and keep a written record of the finding. The person who examined the equipment must tell you immediately about any danger and provide a written report, and if the fault could cause serious injury a copy of that report must be sent to the appropriate enforcing authority.

Employer s.10 HSE When a thorough examination or inspection identifies a defect that could be …

You must arrange and install any lifting plant so that it is as low‑risk as reasonably possible – avoiding people being struck, loads drifting, falling or being released unintentionally. You also need to fit suitable guards or other devices to stop anyone falling down a shaft or hoistway.

Employer s.6 HSE

Whenever you use lifting equipment to move a load, you must make sure the lift is planned by someone who knows what they’re doing, that it is properly supervised on site, and that it is carried out safely. This means having a competent person produce a lift plan, monitoring the work while it happens, and taking steps to prevent accidents.

Employer s.8 HSE When a lifting operation involving lifting equipment is performed

Record keeping 1

If you use lifting equipment that is covered by LOLER, you must keep the EC declaration of conformity for as long as you operate that equipment. You also have to store all inspection reports and defect records for the periods set out in the regulations and make them available for inspection when requested.

Employer s.11 HSE When you own, rent or otherwise use lifting equipment that falls under …