Manual handling can be a dangerous profession if not done correctly, so it is important your lifting equipment is regularly inspected. But who can inspect lifting equipment?

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), lifting equipment inspections should be carried out by competent persons. A competent person is someone who has the right experience and knowledge to thoroughly understand what they are looking for. They should be able to spot any signs of weakness or damage that could be a potential hazard. This could be a member of your team with relevant knowledge or could be someone from another organisation.

The person who carries our the lifting equipment inspection must then complete a written report. This report should detail everything about the inspection, such as:

• When the inspection was carried out
• What date the next inspection should take place
• Any defect that were found which could become a danger in the future

If any defects or damage are found during the inspection, they should be reported immediately so the person in charge can get these sorted as soon as possible.

What should be covered during a thorough examination? 

Though this is typically at the jurisdiction of the person carrying out the inspection, there are a few things which should always be checked. Often, there is a criterion which can be followed and checked off by the competent person. This will include:

• Examination of the equipment/testing of the functionality
• Measuring the wear level
• Load testing
• If required, disassembly of equipment to thoroughly inspect

This inspection will test if the lifting equipment is safe to use and will not cause harm to those who need it. 

As a rule, examinations should be carried out every 6 months for lifting equipment which carries people as this poses the highest safety risk. Lifting accessories should also be inspected every half a year as they can be fatal if damaged. Other types of standard lifting equipment can be inspected yearly if necessary.

At SafetyLiftinGear we offer a professional lifting gear inspection service to help you maintain safe and functional equipment. Get in touch if your equipment is in need of an inspection!

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If you've recently carried out an inspection of your lifting equipment and found it's not fit for purpose, we supply plenty of lifting equipment to fit all your needs here at SafetyLiftingGear. 

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