A thorough examination is a detailed, systematic examination of work equipment by a competent person, carried out at statutory intervals to confirm the equipment is safe to continue in use. The term comes from health and safety law, most prominently the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), and it means something specific: far more than a visual check, and different from routine servicing. This guide explains what a thorough examination is, how it differs from an inspection or a service, which regulations require one, and who is allowed to carry it out.
What a thorough examination actually is
A thorough examination is a formal examination carried out by a competent person, resulting in a written report. It looks past the surface to the condition of load-bearing and safety-critical parts, using measurement, function testing and, where needed, more detailed techniques. Its purpose is to detect deterioration, damage or defects that could make the equipment dangerous, before they cause a failure. It is a legal duty, not a discretionary check, and the report it produces forms part of your compliance record.
How it differs from an inspection, a service and a pre-use check
These terms are often used loosely, but they mean different things:
- Pre-use check: a quick daily look by the operator for obvious faults before using the equipment. Important, but informal and not recorded in the same way.
- Inspection: under PUWER, a check at suitable intervals to confirm equipment is safe to operate. It can be less formal than a thorough examination and is often carried out in-house.
- Service or maintenance: work to keep equipment running, carried out by a maintenance provider. Its aim is reliable operation, not independent verification of safety.
- Thorough examination: a formal, independent examination by a competent person at statutory intervals, producing a report. It verifies safety rather than performing maintenance.
The key distinction is independence and purpose. A service keeps equipment working; a thorough examination confirms, on the record, that it is safe.
Which regulations require a thorough examination
The term appears in several regulations, most prominently:
- LOLER 1998: lifting equipment and accessories must have a thorough examination, generally every 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for accessories, and every 12 months for other lifting equipment.
- PSSR 2000: pressure systems are examined under a Written Scheme of Examination, with the examinations carried out by a competent person.
- COSHH 2002: local exhaust ventilation must be given a thorough examination and test, generally at least every 14 months.
The phrase is most commonly heard in a lifting context. A forklift thorough examination, for example, is simply the LOLER thorough examination applied to a forklift truck. Our LOLER inspection frequency guide sets out the lifting intervals in full.
Who carries out a thorough examination
A thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person: someone with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the equipment to find defects and judge their significance, and enough independence to report them honestly. That independence is why the examination is usually carried out by an external engineer surveyor rather than the operator or the company that maintains the equipment. For more on this, see our guide on who can carry out a LOLER inspection.
What you receive
Every thorough examination results in a written report identifying any defects, how serious they are, the action required, and the date by which the next examination must be carried out. For lifting equipment this is the report of thorough examination. For how to interpret one, see our guide on how to read a LOLER report.
Independent thorough examinations at Safe-Lee
Safe-Lee is an independent inspection consultancy covering Manchester and the North West. Thorough examinations are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES), and reports are typically issued within one to two working days. See our LOLER inspection service, our LOLER inspection checklist, or our guide to LOLER inspection cost.
Frequently asked questions
What does thorough examination mean?
It is a detailed, systematic examination of equipment by a competent person at statutory intervals, resulting in a written report that confirms whether the equipment is safe to continue in use.
Is a thorough examination the same as a service?
No. A service maintains equipment so it runs well. A thorough examination independently verifies that the equipment is safe, and produces a formal report.
How often is a thorough examination required?
It depends on the equipment and the regulation. Lifting equipment is examined every 6 or 12 months under LOLER, LEV at least every 14 months under COSHH, and pressure systems as set by their Written Scheme under PSSR.
Can I carry out a thorough examination in-house?
Only if the person has the competence and independence the law requires. Because independence matters, most duty holders use an external competent person.
Is a forklift thorough examination different?
No. It is the LOLER thorough examination applied to a forklift truck, generally every 12 months for load-only use and every 6 months if it lifts people.