If you're trying to budget for a LOLER thorough examination, you've probably noticed that few inspection firms publish a flat figure, and there's a good reason for that. What a LOLER inspection costs depends on what you're having examined, how much of it there is, and how easy it is to reach. This guide explains the factors that move the figure, so you can read a quote and judge whether it's fair.
What affects the cost of a LOLER inspection
LOLER covers everything from a single sling to a multi-crane overhead system, so no one figure fits every job. The main drivers are:
- Number of items. A competent person works through each piece of equipment and each lifting accessory in turn. Ten slings take longer than one, and a quote usually reflects the count.
- Type and complexity. A webbing sling is a quick visual and functional check. An electric overhead travelling crane, a passenger lift, or a vehicle lift involves structure, ropes or chains, brakes, limit switches, and controls, and takes proportionately longer.
- Inspection interval. LOLER requires 6-monthly examinations for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories, and 12-monthly for most other lifting equipment. Anything on the shorter interval is examined twice as often.
- Site access and conditions. Equipment at height, in a confined space, or needing isolation and a safe handover all add time, as does work that has to happen out of hours to avoid disrupting production.
- Location and travel. Travel to and from your site is part of the job. A site near our Irlam base involves less of it than one at the far edge of the region.
- Scope and bundling. If your site also needs PSSR, PUWER or LEV work, examining everything on one planned visit is more efficient than separate trips.
What a proper quote includes
A LOLER thorough examination is more than a look over the equipment. A complete quote should make clear it covers:
- The competent person's time on site, examining the equipment to the standard LOLER requires.
- A written report of thorough examination for each item, identifying defects and classifying them by how urgently they must be addressed.
- The statutory re-examination date, so you know when the next one falls due.
- Certification you can show to an HSE inspector or your insurer.
- Travel to your site.
If a quote doesn't 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.
Why the cheapest quote can cost more
Lifting equipment that fails can kill, and the LOLER report is a legal document. A quote that undercuts the rest usually does so by leaving something out. Watch for:
- No professional indemnity insurance. If an inspector signs off equipment that later fails, their indemnity cover matters. An uninsured inspector is a risk you inherit.
- An inspector who isn't genuinely independent or competent. The examination must be by a competent person, free from pressure to overlook defects. Someone who also maintains or sells the equipment has a conflict.
- Vague scope. "LOLER inspection" with no list of what's covered can mean corners are cut on the day.
- Suspiciously short time on site. A thorough examination of a complex crane genuinely takes time. If the visit is over in minutes, it wasn't thorough.
- A report that won't stand up. If the paperwork is thin, an HSE inspector or an insurer challenging a claim may not accept it, and you carry the consequences.
How to compare quotes fairly
To compare like with like, ask each firm the same questions:
- Who carries out the examination, and what are their qualifications? Look for recognised engineering credentials and competent-person status.
- Do they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
- Are they independent of the equipment's supply and maintenance?
- What exactly is included, in writing? A clear scope and a sample report tell you more than a headline figure.
- How quickly is the report issued? A fast, clearly-written report keeps your compliance records current.
Safe-Lee is an independent consultancy; examinations are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES), and reports are typically issued within one to two working days. Ask us for a quote and we'll set the scope out clearly before any visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is VAT included in the quote?
Firms present this differently, so always check whether a quoted figure is inclusive or exclusive of VAT. We make it clear on every quotation.
Is travel charged separately?
Some firms quote a low examination figure and add travel on top; others include it. Ask, so you're comparing the full cost, we tell you up front what the quote covers.
Can inspections be bundled to keep costs down?
Yes. If your site needs LOLER alongside PSSR, PUWER or LEV work, examining everything on one planned visit saves repeat travel and site set-up.
What happens if equipment fails the examination?
The report records the defect and classifies how urgently it must be dealt with. Equipment with a serious defect should be taken out of use until it's put right. We explain any findings on site and follow up with the written report.
Who can legally carry out a LOLER inspection?
A LOLER thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person with the right knowledge and experience and enough independence to report defects honestly. In practice that means an external engineer surveyor, not the equipment's operator or maintainer.