LOLER vs PUWER: Understanding Your Legal Obligations

If you operate overhead cranes, hoists, or other lifting equipment, you’ll have come across the terms LOLER and PUWER. But what exactly do these regulations require, how do they differ, and what are your legal obligations? This guide explains everything you need to know to stay compliant and avoid prosecution.

What Is LOLER?

LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations apply specifically to lifting equipment and lifting operations, setting out requirements to ensure that lifting is carried out safely.

LOLER applies to all workplaces and covers a wide range of equipment including overhead cranes, hoists, lifts, fork-lift trucks, mobile cranes, lifting accessories (chains, slings, shackles), and even patient hoists in care settings.

Key LOLER Requirements

Under LOLER, employers and those in control of lifting equipment must ensure that:

• Lifting equipment is strong and stable enough for the proposed use
• Equipment is positioned and installed to minimise risks
• Equipment is visibly marked with its safe working load (SWL)
• Lifting operations are properly planned, supervised, and carried out safely
• Equipment is subject to thorough examination at specified intervals

What Is PUWER?

PUWER stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. These are broader regulations that apply to all work equipment, not just lifting equipment.

PUWER covers everything from hand tools and ladders to complex machinery and vehicles. If it’s used for work, PUWER applies to it.

Key PUWER Requirements

Under PUWER, employers must ensure that:

• Work equipment is suitable for its intended use
• Equipment is maintained in safe working order
• Equipment is inspected where there is a risk of deterioration
• Users receive adequate information, instruction, and training
• Equipment has appropriate guards and safety devices
• Equipment is clearly marked with warnings where necessary

LOLER vs PUWER: Key Differences

While both regulations aim to keep workers safe, they have different scopes and specific requirements. Here’s how they compare:

How Do LOLER and PUWER Overlap?

Here’s the important bit: lifting equipment is covered by both regulations. This means your overhead crane must comply with LOLER and PUWER simultaneously.

Think of it this way:

• PUWER covers day-to-day maintenance and general safety of your crane as a piece of work equipment
• LOLER adds specific requirements for lifting operations and mandates formal thorough examinations

You cannot skip LOLER thorough examinations just because you maintain your equipment under PUWER, and vice versa.

Thorough Examination vs Inspection: What’s the Difference?

This is a common point of confusion. The terms sound similar but have very different legal meanings.

Inspection Frequencies Under LOLER

LOLER specifies minimum intervals for thorough examinations. These are legal maximums – you can examine more frequently if your risk assessment suggests it.

Who Is Responsible?

Under both LOLER and PUWER, the duty falls on:

• Employers – for equipment used by their employees
• Self-employed persons – for equipment they use themselves
• Those in control of equipment – including landlords, building managers, and those who supply equipment for use by others

If you own a crane in your factory, you’re responsible for compliance regardless of who operates it. If you hire equipment, the hire company typically handles thorough examinations, but you should check your contract and request copies of examination reports.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Both LOLER and PUWER are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Failure to comply can result in:

Beyond legal penalties, an accident caused by poorly maintained lifting equipment can devastate a business through lost production, increased insurance premiums, reputational damage, and the human cost of injuries.

Quick Reference: Your Compliance Checklist

How Granada Cranes Can Help

Staying compliant with LOLER and PUWER doesn’t have to be complicated. Granada Cranes provides:

• LOLER thorough examinations – carried out by competent engineers with full written reports
• Preventative maintenance programmes – keeping your equipment in safe working order under PUWER
• Inspection scheduling and reminders – we’ll track your due dates so you don’t have to
• Defect repairs – if issues are found, we can often repair them on the same visit
• Documentation and certification – proper records for your compliance files

We work with overhead cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, hoists, and lifting accessories across all industries. Whether you need a one-off thorough examination or an ongoing maintenance contract, we can help.

Summary

LOLER and PUWER work together to ensure lifting equipment is safe to use. PUWER applies to all work equipment and requires ongoing maintenance and inspection. LOLER adds specific requirements for lifting equipment, including mandatory thorough examinations at fixed intervals.

If you operate overhead cranes or other lifting equipment, you need to comply with both sets of regulations. This means maintaining your equipment properly, training your operators, and having thorough examinations carried out by a competent person at least every 12 months (or 6 months for lifting accessories).

Keep your examination reports on file, address any defects promptly, and don’t wait for an HSE visit to find out you’re not compliant. The cost of proper maintenance and inspection is far less than the potential cost of an accident.