LOLER Audit Guide: A Complete Guide & Free Checklists
LOLER Audit Guide: A Complete Guide & Free Checklists helps you check lifting gear, plan safe lifts, and keep clear records with eAuditor Audits & Inspections.
Lifting work can be risky when teams miss a fault or use the wrong gear. A clear LOLER audit helps you spot these risks before they cause harm. It also helps you keep records, plan checks, and fix problems on time.
This guide explains the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), what to check, and how to prepare for an audit. You will also find free checklist resources and tips to help your team work safely.
With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, you can move paper checks to digital forms, record findings, add photos, and track actions. This helps your team keep its inspection records clear and easy to review.
What Is LOLER?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These UK rules set duties for people and businesses that use lifting equipment at work.
The rules aim to keep lifting operations safe. They cover the planning of lifts, the selection of suitable equipment, and the examination of lifting gear.
LOLER applies to many types of equipment, such as:
- Cranes and mobile cranes
- Forklift trucks used for lifting loads
- Hoists and goods lifts
- Lifting slings, chains, and accessories
- Vehicle tail lifts
- Passenger lifts used at work
- Lifting platforms and other lifting devices
The rules may apply to equipment even when lifting is not its main purpose. The key question is whether the equipment lifts or lowers a load as part of work.
What Is a LOLER Audit?
A LOLER audit is a planned review of lifting equipment, lifting tasks, inspection records, and safety controls. It helps you check whether your team follows the rules and manages lifting risks well.
An audit can include a review of documents, a site walk, and talks with workers. It can also cover how staff choose equipment, plan lifts, report faults, and act on inspection findings.
A good LOLER audit checks more than paperwork. It compares records with the actual equipment and the way people use it.
For example, a report may show that a chain sling passed its last examination. However, an auditor may find damage during a site check. The team must deal with that fault before using the sling again.
Why Is a LOLER Audit Important?
Lifting equipment can fail when teams ignore damage, overload gear, or miss key checks. A LOLER audit helps you find gaps before they lead to an accident.
It can help your business:
- Protect workers: Spot unsafe gear and risky lifting practices.
- Meet legal duties: Check whether your lifting systems meet relevant LOLER requirements.
- Keep records clear: Find examination reports, defect logs, and action records when needed.
- Reduce downtime: Find faults early and plan repairs.
- Improve training: Check whether workers know how to use equipment safely.
- Support accountability: Give each action a clear owner and due date.
- Prepare for reviews: Keep key documents ready for internal and external checks.
Most importantly, a LOLER audit helps turn safety rules into daily work habits. It gives managers a clearer view of the risks and helps staff know what to do next.
LOLER Audit vs. LOLER Thorough Examination
A LOLER audit and a LOLER thorough examination serve different purposes. You should not treat one as a substitute for the other.
A thorough examination is a detailed examination of lifting equipment by a competent person. The examiner checks the equipment for defects that could put people at risk and reports the findings to the responsible person.
A LOLER audit reviews the wider system. It checks how your business selects, uses, maintains, examines, and records lifting equipment.
For example, a thorough examination may identify a defect in a lifting chain. An audit may then check whether the team removed the chain from service, reported the fault, arranged repairs, and updated its records.
Both checks can support a safer workplace. However, an audit does not replace a legally required thorough examination.
What Does LOLER Require?
LOLER places duties on employers and other people who control lifting equipment at work. The exact duties depend on the work, equipment, and circumstances.
Key requirements include the following.
Suitable Lifting Equipment
You must choose equipment that suits the task. Consider the load, working area, lifting height, and the conditions in which the equipment will operate.
Safe Lifting Operations
You must plan lifting work properly, supervise it as needed, and carry it out safely. The level of planning should match the risks.
Competent People
People who plan lifts, operate equipment, and carry out examinations need the right skills and knowledge for their roles.
Thorough Examination
You must arrange thorough examinations at the required intervals. In many cases, the interval is at least every six months for equipment used to lift people and lifting accessories, and every twelve months for other lifting equipment. A competent person may set a different interval through a written examination scheme.
Reports and Defect Control
You must keep the required examination reports and act on defects. If a defect creates an immediate danger, the equipment must not remain in use.
Safe Use and Maintenance
You must keep equipment in safe working order. Regular maintenance and pre-use checks can help find problems, but they do not replace a thorough examination when LOLER requires one.
Always check the relevant legal duties for your equipment and work. Other rules, such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), may also apply.
LOLER Audit Checklist: What Should You Check?
A clear checklist helps auditors follow the same process each time. It also reduces the chance of missing a key issue.
Use the points below as a starting guide. Adapt them to your equipment, work tasks, and risks.
1. Equipment Details
Start by listing the lifting equipment in scope.
- Does each item have a unique ID or clear label?
- Have you recorded the equipment type and location?
- Is the safe working load (SWL) or rated capacity clear?
- Can you find the maker's instructions?
- Do the records match the equipment on site?
- Have you identified all lifting accessories, such as slings and shackles?
2. Thorough Examination Records
Review the latest reports for each item.
- Is a valid report available?
- Did a competent person carry out the examination?
- Is the next examination due date clear?
- Does the report list any defects?
- Have you acted on defects within the required time?
- Have you kept reports in line with the relevant record-keeping duties?
Do not rely on a label or sticker alone. Check the report and confirm that it relates to the exact item of equipment.
3. Lifting Accessories
Lifting accessories need careful checks because wear or damage can lead to a dropped load.
- Are slings, chains, hooks, and shackles fit for use?
- Can you identify their rated capacity?
- Are there signs of cuts, cracks, stretching, corrosion, or heat damage?
- Do hooks have working safety catches where fitted?
- Have staff removed damaged accessories from use?
- Are accessories stored to prevent damage?
4. Safe Lifting Plans
Check how the team plans each lift.
- Has the team assessed the risks?
- Is the load weight known or reliably estimated?
- Is the selected equipment suitable for the load?
- Have staff checked the ground and working area?
- Can the operator see the load or use a safe signalling system?
- Have staff kept people clear of suspended loads?
- Have they agreed on signals and communication methods?
Complex or high-risk lifts may need a more detailed plan. The plan should match the job, not just follow a generic form.
5. Operators and Other Workers
People need to know their roles before lifting starts.
- Are operators trained and competent for the equipment?
- Do slingers and signallers know the agreed signals?
- Can workers identify common lifting hazards?
- Do staff know how to report a fault?
- Are workers aware of the safe working load?
- Do supervisors check that staff follow safe procedures?
6. Maintenance and Pre-Use Checks
Routine checks can help workers find faults before use.
- Do operators complete the required pre-use checks?
- Are maintenance tasks recorded?
- Have staff reported unusual noise, movement, or wear?
- Are guards and safety devices in place and working?
- Have teams fixed earlier faults?
- Is defective equipment clearly marked and kept out of use?
A pre-use check does not replace a thorough examination. Both serve a useful role in equipment safety.
7. Site Conditions
The work area can affect the safety of a lift.
- Are routes clear of obstacles?
- Is lighting suitable?
- Are overhead power lines or other hazards identified?
- Is the ground stable enough for the equipment?
- Have staff controlled access to the lifting area?
- Are weather conditions safe for outdoor lifting?
- Can people move away from the load if a problem occurs?
8. Documents and Corrective Actions
Finish by checking whether the business can prove that it manages lifting risks.
- Are equipment lists up to date?
- Can staff find examination reports?
- Are risk assessments and lift plans available where needed?
- Have you recorded faults and near misses?
- Does each corrective action have an owner?
- Have staff closed actions with suitable evidence?
- Do managers review repeat issues?
A checklist should help you find and fix gaps. It should not become a box-ticking exercise.
How Often Should You Carry Out a LOLER Audit?
LOLER does not set one universal interval for every internal audit. Your business should set an audit schedule based on the equipment, level of risk, and complexity of its lifting work.
You may choose to:
- Review examination dates and outstanding defects each month.
- Audit high-risk lifting tasks more often.
- Check equipment records during planned safety reviews.
- Carry out a wider audit after a serious incident or major change.
- Review corrective actions until the team closes them.
Keep the audit schedule separate from the legal thorough examination intervals. Internal audits help you monitor your system, while thorough examinations meet a different legal purpose.
How to Conduct a LOLER Audit
A clear process makes audits easier to plan and repeat. Follow these steps to build a useful record of what you find.
Step 1: Set the Scope
Decide which site, equipment, and lifting tasks you will review. Include the relevant lifting accessories and records.
Step 2: Gather the Records
Collect equipment lists, examination reports, maintenance logs, risk assessments, and lift plans. Check that the records match the equipment on site.
Step 3: Inspect the Work Area
Observe lifting tasks where it is safe to do so. Look at equipment condition, access routes, load handling, and the way workers communicate.
Step 4: Speak With Workers
Ask operators how they check equipment and report faults. Their answers can reveal gaps that paperwork may not show.
Step 5: Record Findings
Write clear notes for each issue. Add photos when useful and safe, and state which equipment or process the finding relates to.
Step 6: Rate the Risk
Decide which findings need urgent action. Stop unsafe lifting and remove dangerous equipment from service when required.
Step 7: Assign Corrective Actions
Name the person who will fix each issue. Set a realistic due date and state what evidence will show that the work is complete.
Step 8: Review and Close
Check the evidence before closing an action. If the same problem keeps returning, look for the cause and improve the process.
Do not treat every finding as equal. Deal with immediate dangers first, then plan the remaining work according to risk.
Free LOLER Audit Checklists From eAuditor
A good checklist helps your team cover the right points and record results in a consistent way. eAuditor offers related templates that can help you review lifting risks and site safety.
The following resources are relevant starting points. Some cover broader safety topics rather than LOLER alone, so check each template and adapt it to your own equipment and legal duties.
1. LOLER Inspection Checklist
Use the LOLER Inspection Checklist category to find eAuditor's LOLER-related inspection content. It includes guidance on checking lifting equipment and maintaining inspection records.
This resource can help you build checks for:
- Equipment condition and suitability
- Lifting accessories and rated capacity
- Examination records and due dates
- Defects that need action
- Safe lifting practices
Choose the checklist that best fits your equipment. Confirm that it covers the requirements for your specific work before using it.
2. Checklist for Site Inspection
The Checklist for Site Inspection includes questions about suitable lifting equipment, site access, worker training, electrical hazards, and other worksite risks.
Use it to review the wider conditions around a lifting task. For example, you can check whether routes are clear, workers know safe handling methods, and the team has considered nearby hazards.
This template supports a general site review. Add equipment-specific questions to cover your LOLER audit needs.
3. Environmental, Health, and Safety Checklist
The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Checklist includes a section on hoists, cranes, and lifting devices.
Its questions cover items such as lifting gear certification and tags, load limits, crane checks, secure loads, and keeping people clear of suspended loads.
This checklist can support a wider EHS review. Review its scope and adapt it to your site and applicable UK rules.
4. Using eAuditor
Read the eAuditor user guide to learn how to start and complete inspections, use templates, review inspection history, and manage actions.
These features can help your team keep LOLER audit work in one place. You can use digital forms to capture findings, add evidence, and track work that remains open.
How eAuditor Audits & Inspections Can Help
Paper checklists can work for small teams, but they can be hard to manage across sites or large equipment lists. Digital audits offer a simpler way to collect findings and follow up on issues.
With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, your team can:
- Use digital checklists: Build or adapt forms for your equipment and site.
- Record findings on site: Enter results as you inspect the equipment.
- Add evidence: Attach photos, notes, and relevant files to support findings.
- Track corrective actions: Assign tasks and monitor progress.
- Create reports: Keep audit results ready for review and sharing.
- Review past inspections: Use earlier records to spot repeat issues.
- Support consistent checks: Give different auditors a common set of questions.
You can start with a related template and adjust it to fit your work. Make sure a competent person reviews the checklist before you use it to support compliance.
Explore eAuditor Audits & Inspections to learn more about digital inspections and audit management.
Best Practices for a Strong LOLER Audit
A well-run audit should lead to safer work, not just a completed form. These habits can help your team get more value from each review.
- Keep the equipment list current. Add new equipment and remove items that no longer belong to your site.
- Check the actual equipment. Match ID numbers and records during the site visit.
- Use competent people. Make sure those who plan, operate, and examine equipment have the right skills.
- Write clear findings. State what is wrong, where it happened, and why it matters.
- Act on serious risks first. Do not wait for the final report to control an immediate danger.
- Set clear deadlines. Give each action an owner and a due date.
- Verify every fix. Check that the team has resolved the issue before closing it.
- Look for repeat problems. Find the cause rather than fixing the same fault again and again.
- Review the checklist. Update it when equipment, tasks, or risks change.
Conclusion
A LOLER Audit Guide: A Complete Guide & Free Checklists gives your team a clear way to review lifting equipment, safe work practices, and key records. The goal is simple: find risks, fix gaps, and keep people safe.
Remember that an internal audit does not replace a LOLER thorough examination. Your business must still meet the legal requirements that apply to its equipment and lifting tasks.
Use a suitable checklist, involve competent people, and follow each finding through to completion. With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, you can make checks easier to record, review, and act on.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does LOLER stand for?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These UK regulations set requirements for safe lifting operations and lifting equipment used at work.
2. What is a LOLER audit?
A LOLER audit reviews how a business manages lifting equipment and lifting tasks. It may cover equipment condition, examination reports, lift plans, worker competence, and corrective actions.
3. Is a LOLER audit a legal requirement?
LOLER sets legal duties for lifting equipment and operations, but it does not prescribe one universal internal audit or audit interval. Businesses may use internal audits to monitor compliance and improve safety.
4. How often must lifting equipment undergo a thorough examination?
In many cases, lifting equipment used to lift people and lifting accessories need examination at least every six months. Other lifting equipment often needs examination at least every twelve months. A competent person may set different intervals in a written examination scheme, where permitted.
5. Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?
A competent person must carry out the thorough examination. They need suitable practical and theoretical knowledge, experience, and independence to identify defects and assess their significance.
6. Does a LOLER checklist replace a thorough examination?
No. A checklist supports routine checks and audits, but it does not replace a legally required thorough examination by a competent person.
7. What equipment falls under LOLER?
LOLER can cover cranes, hoists, lifting accessories, forklift trucks used for lifting, vehicle tail lifts, and other equipment used to lift or lower loads at work. The exact scope depends on the equipment and how it is used.
8. What should a LOLER inspection checklist include?
A checklist should cover equipment identification, rated capacity, condition, examination records, lifting accessories, safe lifting plans, operator competence, site hazards, and corrective actions. Adapt it to the risks and equipment at your workplace.
9. What should I do if an examination finds a defect?
Follow the competent person's report and control the risk. If the defect creates an immediate danger, do not use the equipment until it is safe. Complete the required repairs or other measures and arrange further checks when needed.
10. Where can I find free LOLER audit checklists?
Start with the eAuditor LOLER category, the Checklist for Site Inspection, and the EHS Checklist. Check each template's scope and add any questions needed for your equipment and work.
11. Can I use eAuditor for digital LOLER audits?
Yes. You can use eAuditor Audits & Inspections to create or adapt digital checklists, record findings, add evidence, and manage corrective actions. Your team must still meet all applicable legal examination and record-keeping duties.
12. https://eauditor.app/2026/10/13/loler-audit-guide-a-complete-guide-free-checklists/
LOLER Audit Guide: A Complete Guide & Free Checklists helps you check lifting gear, plan safe lifts, and keep clear records with eAuditor Audits & Inspections.
Lifting work can be risky when teams miss a fault or use the wrong gear. A clear LOLER audit helps you spot these risks before they cause harm. It also helps you keep records, plan checks, and fix problems on time.
This guide explains the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), what to check, and how to prepare for an audit. You will also find free checklist resources and tips to help your team work safely.
With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, you can move paper checks to digital forms, record findings, add photos, and track actions. This helps your team keep its inspection records clear and easy to review.
What Is LOLER?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These UK rules set duties for people and businesses that use lifting equipment at work.
The rules aim to keep lifting operations safe. They cover the planning of lifts, the selection of suitable equipment, and the examination of lifting gear.
LOLER applies to many types of equipment, such as:
- Cranes and mobile cranes
- Forklift trucks used for lifting loads
- Hoists and goods lifts
- Lifting slings, chains, and accessories
- Vehicle tail lifts
- Passenger lifts used at work
- Lifting platforms and other lifting devices
The rules may apply to equipment even when lifting is not its main purpose. The key question is whether the equipment lifts or lowers a load as part of work.
What Is a LOLER Audit?
A LOLER audit is a planned review of lifting equipment, lifting tasks, inspection records, and safety controls. It helps you check whether your team follows the rules and manages lifting risks well.
An audit can include a review of documents, a site walk, and talks with workers. It can also cover how staff choose equipment, plan lifts, report faults, and act on inspection findings.
A good LOLER audit checks more than paperwork. It compares records with the actual equipment and the way people use it.
For example, a report may show that a chain sling passed its last examination. However, an auditor may find damage during a site check. The team must deal with that fault before using the sling again.
Why Is a LOLER Audit Important?
Lifting equipment can fail when teams ignore damage, overload gear, or miss key checks. A LOLER audit helps you find gaps before they lead to an accident.
It can help your business:
- Protect workers: Spot unsafe gear and risky lifting practices.
- Meet legal duties: Check whether your lifting systems meet relevant LOLER requirements.
- Keep records clear: Find examination reports, defect logs, and action records when needed.
- Reduce downtime: Find faults early and plan repairs.
- Improve training: Check whether workers know how to use equipment safely.
- Support accountability: Give each action a clear owner and due date.
- Prepare for reviews: Keep key documents ready for internal and external checks.
Most importantly, a LOLER audit helps turn safety rules into daily work habits. It gives managers a clearer view of the risks and helps staff know what to do next.
LOLER Audit vs. LOLER Thorough Examination
A LOLER audit and a LOLER thorough examination serve different purposes. You should not treat one as a substitute for the other.
A thorough examination is a detailed examination of lifting equipment by a competent person. The examiner checks the equipment for defects that could put people at risk and reports the findings to the responsible person.
A LOLER audit reviews the wider system. It checks how your business selects, uses, maintains, examines, and records lifting equipment.
For example, a thorough examination may identify a defect in a lifting chain. An audit may then check whether the team removed the chain from service, reported the fault, arranged repairs, and updated its records.
Both checks can support a safer workplace. However, an audit does not replace a legally required thorough examination.
What Does LOLER Require?
LOLER places duties on employers and other people who control lifting equipment at work. The exact duties depend on the work, equipment, and circumstances.
Key requirements include the following.
Suitable Lifting Equipment
You must choose equipment that suits the task. Consider the load, working area, lifting height, and the conditions in which the equipment will operate.
Safe Lifting Operations
You must plan lifting work properly, supervise it as needed, and carry it out safely. The level of planning should match the risks.
Competent People
People who plan lifts, operate equipment, and carry out examinations need the right skills and knowledge for their roles.
Thorough Examination
You must arrange thorough examinations at the required intervals. In many cases, the interval is at least every six months for equipment used to lift people and lifting accessories, and every twelve months for other lifting equipment. A competent person may set a different interval through a written examination scheme.
Reports and Defect Control
You must keep the required examination reports and act on defects. If a defect creates an immediate danger, the equipment must not remain in use.
Safe Use and Maintenance
You must keep equipment in safe working order. Regular maintenance and pre-use checks can help find problems, but they do not replace a thorough examination when LOLER requires one.
Always check the relevant legal duties for your equipment and work. Other rules, such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), may also apply.
LOLER Audit Checklist: What Should You Check?
A clear checklist helps auditors follow the same process each time. It also reduces the chance of missing a key issue.
Use the points below as a starting guide. Adapt them to your equipment, work tasks, and risks.
1. Equipment Details
Start by listing the lifting equipment in scope.
- Does each item have a unique ID or clear label?
- Have you recorded the equipment type and location?
- Is the safe working load (SWL) or rated capacity clear?
- Can you find the maker's instructions?
- Do the records match the equipment on site?
- Have you identified all lifting accessories, such as slings and shackles?
2. Thorough Examination Records
Review the latest reports for each item.
- Is a valid report available?
- Did a competent person carry out the examination?
- Is the next examination due date clear?
- Does the report list any defects?
- Have you acted on defects within the required time?
- Have you kept reports in line with the relevant record-keeping duties?
Do not rely on a label or sticker alone. Check the report and confirm that it relates to the exact item of equipment.
3. Lifting Accessories
Lifting accessories need careful checks because wear or damage can lead to a dropped load.
- Are slings, chains, hooks, and shackles fit for use?
- Can you identify their rated capacity?
- Are there signs of cuts, cracks, stretching, corrosion, or heat damage?
- Do hooks have working safety catches where fitted?
- Have staff removed damaged accessories from use?
- Are accessories stored to prevent damage?
4. Safe Lifting Plans
Check how the team plans each lift.
- Has the team assessed the risks?
- Is the load weight known or reliably estimated?
- Is the selected equipment suitable for the load?
- Have staff checked the ground and working area?
- Can the operator see the load or use a safe signalling system?
- Have staff kept people clear of suspended loads?
- Have they agreed on signals and communication methods?
Complex or high-risk lifts may need a more detailed plan. The plan should match the job, not just follow a generic form.
5. Operators and Other Workers
People need to know their roles before lifting starts.
- Are operators trained and competent for the equipment?
- Do slingers and signallers know the agreed signals?
- Can workers identify common lifting hazards?
- Do staff know how to report a fault?
- Are workers aware of the safe working load?
- Do supervisors check that staff follow safe procedures?
6. Maintenance and Pre-Use Checks
Routine checks can help workers find faults before use.
- Do operators complete the required pre-use checks?
- Are maintenance tasks recorded?
- Have staff reported unusual noise, movement, or wear?
- Are guards and safety devices in place and working?
- Have teams fixed earlier faults?
- Is defective equipment clearly marked and kept out of use?
A pre-use check does not replace a thorough examination. Both serve a useful role in equipment safety.
7. Site Conditions
The work area can affect the safety of a lift.
- Are routes clear of obstacles?
- Is lighting suitable?
- Are overhead power lines or other hazards identified?
- Is the ground stable enough for the equipment?
- Have staff controlled access to the lifting area?
- Are weather conditions safe for outdoor lifting?
- Can people move away from the load if a problem occurs?
8. Documents and Corrective Actions
Finish by checking whether the business can prove that it manages lifting risks.
- Are equipment lists up to date?
- Can staff find examination reports?
- Are risk assessments and lift plans available where needed?
- Have you recorded faults and near misses?
- Does each corrective action have an owner?
- Have staff closed actions with suitable evidence?
- Do managers review repeat issues?
A checklist should help you find and fix gaps. It should not become a box-ticking exercise.
How Often Should You Carry Out a LOLER Audit?
LOLER does not set one universal interval for every internal audit. Your business should set an audit schedule based on the equipment, level of risk, and complexity of its lifting work.
You may choose to:
- Review examination dates and outstanding defects each month.
- Audit high-risk lifting tasks more often.
- Check equipment records during planned safety reviews.
- Carry out a wider audit after a serious incident or major change.
- Review corrective actions until the team closes them.
Keep the audit schedule separate from the legal thorough examination intervals. Internal audits help you monitor your system, while thorough examinations meet a different legal purpose.
How to Conduct a LOLER Audit
A clear process makes audits easier to plan and repeat. Follow these steps to build a useful record of what you find.
Step 1: Set the Scope
Decide which site, equipment, and lifting tasks you will review. Include the relevant lifting accessories and records.
Step 2: Gather the Records
Collect equipment lists, examination reports, maintenance logs, risk assessments, and lift plans. Check that the records match the equipment on site.
Step 3: Inspect the Work Area
Observe lifting tasks where it is safe to do so. Look at equipment condition, access routes, load handling, and the way workers communicate.
Step 4: Speak With Workers
Ask operators how they check equipment and report faults. Their answers can reveal gaps that paperwork may not show.
Step 5: Record Findings
Write clear notes for each issue. Add photos when useful and safe, and state which equipment or process the finding relates to.
Step 6: Rate the Risk
Decide which findings need urgent action. Stop unsafe lifting and remove dangerous equipment from service when required.
Step 7: Assign Corrective Actions
Name the person who will fix each issue. Set a realistic due date and state what evidence will show that the work is complete.
Step 8: Review and Close
Check the evidence before closing an action. If the same problem keeps returning, look for the cause and improve the process.
Do not treat every finding as equal. Deal with immediate dangers first, then plan the remaining work according to risk.
Free LOLER Audit Checklists From eAuditor
A good checklist helps your team cover the right points and record results in a consistent way. eAuditor offers related templates that can help you review lifting risks and site safety.
The following resources are relevant starting points. Some cover broader safety topics rather than LOLER alone, so check each template and adapt it to your own equipment and legal duties.
1. LOLER Inspection Checklist
Use the LOLER Inspection Checklist category to find eAuditor's LOLER-related inspection content. It includes guidance on checking lifting equipment and maintaining inspection records.
This resource can help you build checks for:
- Equipment condition and suitability
- Lifting accessories and rated capacity
- Examination records and due dates
- Defects that need action
- Safe lifting practices
Choose the checklist that best fits your equipment. Confirm that it covers the requirements for your specific work before using it.
2. Checklist for Site Inspection
The Checklist for Site Inspection includes questions about suitable lifting equipment, site access, worker training, electrical hazards, and other worksite risks.
Use it to review the wider conditions around a lifting task. For example, you can check whether routes are clear, workers know safe handling methods, and the team has considered nearby hazards.
This template supports a general site review. Add equipment-specific questions to cover your LOLER audit needs.
3. Environmental, Health, and Safety Checklist
The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Checklist includes a section on hoists, cranes, and lifting devices.
Its questions cover items such as lifting gear certification and tags, load limits, crane checks, secure loads, and keeping people clear of suspended loads.
This checklist can support a wider EHS review. Review its scope and adapt it to your site and applicable UK rules.
4. Using eAuditor
Read the eAuditor user guide to learn how to start and complete inspections, use templates, review inspection history, and manage actions.
These features can help your team keep LOLER audit work in one place. You can use digital forms to capture findings, add evidence, and track work that remains open.
How eAuditor Audits & Inspections Can Help
Paper checklists can work for small teams, but they can be hard to manage across sites or large equipment lists. Digital audits offer a simpler way to collect findings and follow up on issues.
With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, your team can:
- Use digital checklists: Build or adapt forms for your equipment and site.
- Record findings on site: Enter results as you inspect the equipment.
- Add evidence: Attach photos, notes, and relevant files to support findings.
- Track corrective actions: Assign tasks and monitor progress.
- Create reports: Keep audit results ready for review and sharing.
- Review past inspections: Use earlier records to spot repeat issues.
- Support consistent checks: Give different auditors a common set of questions.
You can start with a related template and adjust it to fit your work. Make sure a competent person reviews the checklist before you use it to support compliance.
Explore eAuditor Audits & Inspections to learn more about digital inspections and audit management.
Best Practices for a Strong LOLER Audit
A well-run audit should lead to safer work, not just a completed form. These habits can help your team get more value from each review.
- Keep the equipment list current. Add new equipment and remove items that no longer belong to your site.
- Check the actual equipment. Match ID numbers and records during the site visit.
- Use competent people. Make sure those who plan, operate, and examine equipment have the right skills.
- Write clear findings. State what is wrong, where it happened, and why it matters.
- Act on serious risks first. Do not wait for the final report to control an immediate danger.
- Set clear deadlines. Give each action an owner and a due date.
- Verify every fix. Check that the team has resolved the issue before closing it.
- Look for repeat problems. Find the cause rather than fixing the same fault again and again.
- Review the checklist. Update it when equipment, tasks, or risks change.
Conclusion
A LOLER Audit Guide: A Complete Guide & Free Checklists gives your team a clear way to review lifting equipment, safe work practices, and key records. The goal is simple: find risks, fix gaps, and keep people safe.
Remember that an internal audit does not replace a LOLER thorough examination. Your business must still meet the legal requirements that apply to its equipment and lifting tasks.
Use a suitable checklist, involve competent people, and follow each finding through to completion. With eAuditor Audits & Inspections, you can make checks easier to record, review, and act on.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does LOLER stand for?
LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These UK regulations set requirements for safe lifting operations and lifting equipment used at work.
2. What is a LOLER audit?
A LOLER audit reviews how a business manages lifting equipment and lifting tasks. It may cover equipment condition, examination reports, lift plans, worker competence, and corrective actions.
3. Is a LOLER audit a legal requirement?
LOLER sets legal duties for lifting equipment and operations, but it does not prescribe one universal internal audit or audit interval. Businesses may use internal audits to monitor compliance and improve safety.
4. How often must lifting equipment undergo a thorough examination?
In many cases, lifting equipment used to lift people and lifting accessories need examination at least every six months. Other lifting equipment often needs examination at least every twelve months. A competent person may set different intervals in a written examination scheme, where permitted.
5. Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?
A competent person must carry out the thorough examination. They need suitable practical and theoretical knowledge, experience, and independence to identify defects and assess their significance.
6. Does a LOLER checklist replace a thorough examination?
No. A checklist supports routine checks and audits, but it does not replace a legally required thorough examination by a competent person.
7. What equipment falls under LOLER?
LOLER can cover cranes, hoists, lifting accessories, forklift trucks used for lifting, vehicle tail lifts, and other equipment used to lift or lower loads at work. The exact scope depends on the equipment and how it is used.
8. What should a LOLER inspection checklist include?
A checklist should cover equipment identification, rated capacity, condition, examination records, lifting accessories, safe lifting plans, operator competence, site hazards, and corrective actions. Adapt it to the risks and equipment at your workplace.
9. What should I do if an examination finds a defect?
Follow the competent person's report and control the risk. If the defect creates an immediate danger, do not use the equipment until it is safe. Complete the required repairs or other measures and arrange further checks when needed.
10. Where can I find free LOLER audit checklists?
Start with the eAuditor LOLER category, the Checklist for Site Inspection, and the EHS Checklist. Check each template's scope and add any questions needed for your equipment and work.
11. Can I use eAuditor for digital LOLER audits?
Yes. You can use eAuditor Audits & Inspections to create or adapt digital checklists, record findings, add evidence, and manage corrective actions. Your team must still meet all applicable legal examination and record-keeping duties.
12. https://eauditor.app/2026/10/13/loler-audit-guide-a-complete-guide-free-checklists/
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