Tail Lift Inspection
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Statutory 6-monthly thorough examination of vehicle tail-lifts under LOLER 1998.
What a tail lift inspection involves
A tail lift thorough examination is the LOLER inspection that keeps a vehicle tail-lift safe and compliant. Safe-Lee examines column, cantilever and tuck-away tail-lifts on rigid vehicles and trailers for operators across Manchester and the North West, on individual vehicles and across fleets.
We work around your transport schedule, examine the tail-lift through its full operation, and issue a clear report of thorough examination, typically within one to two working days. Because we are independent, our only interest is an accurate report.
What we check on a tail lift
A tail-lift examination covers the structure, the hydraulics and the safety features:
- Platform and lifting arms, for cracks, corrosion and distortion
- Pivot pins, bushes and bearings, for wear and security
- Hydraulic rams, hoses and connections, for leaks and damage
- Ramps, roll-stops and any tilt function
- Controls, and the audible or visual warning devices
- Mounting to the vehicle chassis or trailer
How often a tail lift must be examined
LOLER sets the maximum interval by how the tail-lift is used:
- Every 12 months for a tail-lift used only to raise and lower goods
- Every 6 months where it is used to lift a person, for example a passenger or wheelchair user riding the platform
- Sooner after substantial repair, modification, or an exceptional event such as an overload or collision
The intervals are LOLER maximums. Many operators shorten them for tail-lifts in constant daily use.
Defects we find most often on a tail lift
On vehicle tail-lifts, the findings we commonly record include:
- Worn or insecure pivot pins and bushes
- Hydraulic leaks from rams, hoses or fittings, and slow or uneven operation
- Cracked or corroded platform sections and lifting arms
- Missing or damaged roll-stops and hand-rails
- Damaged control boxes or a failed warning device
Why our tail 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. We can examine tail-lifts at your depot to fit around vehicle availability.
For what drives the price, see 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 tail lift need a thorough examination?
Every 12 months if it lifts only goods, and every 6 months where it is used to lift a person, such as a wheelchair passenger. These are LOLER maximum intervals.
Can you examine tail-lifts at our depot?
Yes. We can attend your depot and work around vehicle availability, including examining several vehicles in one visit.
Does a tail lift on a hired vehicle still need examining?
Yes. Responsibility depends on the hire or lease agreement, so confirm whether the duty sits with you or the provider.
Is this the same as the vehicle's MOT or service?
No. The LOLER thorough examination of the tail-lift is a separate statutory requirement from the vehicle's roadworthiness testing and routine servicing.
What happens if the tail lift fails?
A serious defect means the tail-lift should be taken out of use until it is repaired and re-examined. We record findings with timescales and explain them on site.
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 tail lift inspection?
Quick conversation, honest scoping, fast quote. Talk to a competent person.