Passenger Lift Inspection
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Statutory 6-monthly thorough examination of passenger lifts under LOLER 1998.
What a passenger lift inspection involves
A passenger lift LOLER thorough examination is the statutory 6-monthly inspection that keeps a lift carrying people safe and compliant. Safe-Lee examines passenger lifts in offices, retail, industrial and residential buildings across Manchester and the North West, working independently of your lift maintenance contractor so the examination is a genuine second pair of eyes.
We attend at a time that suits the building, examine the lift and its safety systems, and issue a clear report of thorough examination, typically within one to two working days. The thorough examination sits alongside, and does not replace, your routine lift maintenance.
What we check on a passenger lift
A passenger lift examination covers the car, the suspension and the safety systems that protect passengers:
- Suspension ropes or belts, their terminations and condition
- Safety gear, overspeed governor and the trip test arrangements
- Brake and machine, for condition and correct operation
- Car and landing doors, interlocks and door protection
- Buffers, counterweight and guide rails
- Levelling accuracy and ride quality
- Car controls, alarm and emergency communication
How often a passenger lift must be examined
Because a passenger lift carries people, LOLER sets a shorter maximum interval:
- Every 6 months for the thorough examination
- Or in line with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person, where one is in place
- Sooner after substantial repair or modification, or an exceptional event
The 6-monthly interval is a LOLER maximum, not a target; your risk assessment or insurer may call for closer attention.
Defects we find most often on a passenger lift
On passenger lifts, the findings we commonly record include:
- Worn or contaminated suspension ropes, and slack-rope conditions
- Door interlock faults and worn door gear
- Safety-gear or overspeed governor trip levels out of specification
- Brake wear affecting stopping accuracy
- Poor levelling at landings
- A faulty car alarm or emergency communication line
Why our passenger lift examination is independent
Safe-Lee is an independent consultancy, and examinations are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES). Reports are typically issued within one to two working days, and we cover Manchester and the North West. Because we are independent of the maintenance contract, the examination is a true independent check.
For the intervals across all lifting equipment, see our LOLER inspection frequency guide, and for pricing, our LOLER inspection cost guide. More on our LOLER service.
LOLER thorough examination at a glance
The facts that decide what you need and when, in one place.
| Governing regulation | Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 9 |
|---|---|
| Maximum interval | 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories; 12 months for other lifting equipment; or as set by an examination scheme |
| Also required | After installation or reassembly, and after an exceptional event such as an overload or collision |
| Who must arrange it | The employer or duty holder who controls the equipment |
| Who may carry it out | A competent person, independent enough to report defects without pressure |
| What you receive | A report of thorough examination for each item, with defects classified by urgency and the next due date |
| Typical report turnaround | 1 to 2 working days |
Are Safe-Lee thorough examinations right for you?
We would rather tell you now than after you have booked. Below is who we are a good fit for, who we are not, what this service does not cover, and what else you could do instead, including options we do not sell. Statutory examination is a legal duty rather than a purchase, so the useful question is not whether you need it but whether we are the right people to do it for you.
We are a good fit if
- You are the duty holder or employer responsible for arranging statutory examination
- Your site is in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire or the surrounding North West
- You want the examination done by someone with no commercial interest in the equipment staying in service
- You have anything from a single forklift or sling to a multi-crane overhead system
We are not the right choice if
- You need the equipment repaired, serviced or maintained. We examine and report, and we do not carry out remedial work
- You need a single provider to cover many sites across the UK on the same day. We are a small independent practice, not a national network
- You need 24/7 emergency callout. Work is scheduled, including out of hours where that avoids disrupting production
What this service does not cover
- Repair, servicing, maintenance or refurbishment of the equipment examined
- Supply, hire or sale of equipment or spare parts
- Any work that would compromise our independence as the examining body
- Load testing or proof testing, which is separate work commissioned when a report calls for it
What else you could do instead
- Your insurer's engineer surveyor scheme
- Check your own policy before buying inspection twice: some cover arranges statutory inspection for lifting and pressure equipment, and where yours does, it is a genuine alternative and for some businesses the right one.
- A national inspection body
- If you have many sites across the UK, or need round-the-clock cover, a large provider will suit you better than we will.
- An in-house competent person
- If you employ someone with the right knowledge and experience who is genuinely independent of the equipment's operation and maintenance, they can carry out the examination themselves.
What we need from you
Having these ready shortens the visit and keeps the quote accurate.
- A list of the equipment to be examined, with identification or serial numbers where they exist
- Previous reports or certificates, if you have them, so we can see the history and the next due dates
- Safe access to each item, including any isolation, permits or escorts your site requires
- Someone available who can operate the equipment if a functional check is needed
- Any examination scheme drawn up for the equipment, if intervals differ from the statutory default
What a thorough examination costs, and what moves the figure
We do not publish a flat rate, because thorough examination work is scoped to your equipment and site and any single figure would be wrong for most readers. Here is what we price on, what a complete quote covers, and how to judge one quote against another, so you can budget before you speak to anyone.
What moves the price
- Number of items. Each piece of lifting equipment and each accessory is examined in turn, so ten slings take longer than one
- Type and complexity. A webbing sling is a quick visual and functional check; an overhead travelling crane or a passenger lift involves structure, ropes or chains, brakes, limit switches and controls
- Inspection interval. Equipment that lifts people, and lifting accessories, are examined every 6 months rather than 12, so they come round twice as often
- Site access and conditions. Equipment at height, in a confined space, or needing isolation adds time, as does out-of-hours work to avoid disrupting production
- Location and travel. A site near our Irlam base involves less travel than one at the edge of the region
- Scope and bundling. Examining LOLER, PSSR, PUWER and LEV equipment on one planned visit is more efficient than separate trips
What a complete quote should cover
- The competent person's time on site, examining to the standard the regulations require
- A written report identifying any defects and classifying them by how urgently they must be addressed
- The date the next examination falls due
- Certification you can show an HSE inspector or your insurer
- Travel to your site
If a quote does not spell these out, ask. The report is the part that proves compliance; an examination with no usable report leaves you no better off than before.
How to compare quotes fairly
Ask every firm the same questions, including us. A cheaper quote usually differs on one of these rather than on the work itself.
| Compare on | Safe-Lee |
|---|---|
| Who carries out the examination, and what qualifications and competent-person status they hold | Stated in writing |
| Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance | Stated in writing |
| Whether they are independent of the equipment's supply, hire and maintenance | Stated in writing |
| Exactly what is included, in writing, with a sample report | Stated in writing |
| How quickly the report is issued after the visit | Stated in writing |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a passenger lift need a LOLER examination?
Every 6 months, because it is used to lift people. This is the LOLER maximum interval; it can be shorter where an examination scheme or risk assessment requires it.
Is the LOLER examination the same as our lift maintenance?
No. Maintenance keeps the lift running; the LOLER thorough examination is an independent statutory check that it is safe. Both are needed, and they are usually carried out by different parties.
Who is the duty holder for a passenger lift?
Usually the person in control of the premises, such as the building owner or managing agent. If you are unsure, we can help you work out who holds the duty.
Do you work around building occupants?
Yes. We plan the examination to minimise disruption, and can attend outside busy periods where that suits the building.
What if the lift is found unsafe?
A defect that is an existing or imminent danger means the lift should be taken out of use until it is put right. We record the finding with timescales and explain it clearly.
Where the LOLER thorough examination rules come from
Everything on this page is our reading of the following documents. They are the authority, not us, so we link them directly and you can check any of it yourself.
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
legislation.gov.uk
The statutory instrument itself. Regulation 9 is the thorough examination duty.
- Safe use of lifting equipment (L113)
Health and Safety Executive
The Approved Code of Practice for LOLER. An ACOP has special legal status: follow it and you are doing enough to comply.
- Thorough examination of lifting equipment (INDG422)(PDF)
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's plain-English guide for employers on what a thorough examination is and when it is due.
Need a passenger lift inspection?
Quick conversation, honest scoping, fast quote. Talk to a competent person.