Lift Inspection Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about lift inpsections in Sussex & Kent. Please call or email High Weald Engineering Compliance Ltd. should you have any other questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a passenger lift need a thorough examination?
Inspection frequency depends on the type of lift:
Lifts designed to carry people require a thorough examination at least 6 monthly.
Lifts designed to carry goods only require an inspection at least once every 12 months.
A competent person may specifiy shorter frequencies due to the lift's condition.
Additional inspections may be requried following significant changes, repairs or in exceptional circumstances.
Do all lifts need thorough examinations?
All Passenger Lifts in work places or primarily used by employees and contractors require 6 monthly inspections.
The regulations, HSE & SAFed recommend that lifts in residential blocks, or primarily used by the public are inspected 6 monthly as best practice; this ensures they are compliant and provides evidence of duty of care for the duty holder.
All Goods & Service lifts require inspections at least annually as they are used in commercial & work spaces.
Which regulations govern lift insections?
Lifts come under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Reglations 1998.
LOLER 98 is part of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98).
What's the difference between an thorough examination and a service?
A Thorough Examination is a formal, systematic inspection of safety-critical components, safety-devices, and overall condition of the lift.
This ensures the lift is safe to use and compliant with the regulations, and demonstrates duty of care by the lift owner/duty holder.
Thorough Examinations are a legal, statutory requirement under LOLER 98, and should be carried out by an independent, authorised competent person who provides a written report of thorough examination on completion.
A Lift Service is part of the maintenance programme, carrying out preventative maintenance to keep the lift running correctly & reliably. T
Lift servicings are not a legal requirement, although it helps with the general equipment safety requirements (PUWER Rule 5 & 6).
I can't. You need to arrange for your lift maintenance contractor to repair any defects highlighted on the Report of Thorough Examination (ROTE).
The HSE and LOLER specify that lift and lifting equipment thorough examinations and maintenance should be carried out by separate engineers, preferably the inspectinos should be carrieod out by an inspecotr without affiliations to maintenance companies to ensure it is truely independent and unbiased.
When can you come back to fix it?
Who can carry out a LOLER thorough examination?
Lifts can only be inspected by a competent person as defined within LOLER:
A competent person is a person who with 'such appropriate practical and theorectical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined to enable them to detect defects or weaknesses & assess thier importance in relation to the safety & continued use of the lifting equipment'.
Who is responsible for arranging lift inspections?
The responsibility for scheduling lift inspections is with the equipment owner & duty holder (if allocated by the owner), as specified in PUWER Rule 5 & 6.
Are stairlifts and platform lifts covered by LOLER?
Stairlifts & Platform Lifts used to lift people at work, or in a care situation, come under LOLER, and should be inspected at least 6 monthly.
Private Stairlifts & Platforms Lifts used domestically should be maintained & checked regularly.
Booking & Preparation FAQs
How do I arrange a lift inspection?
Contact our team with details of your lift type, intended use and the date of the last examination, if known. We can discuss your requirements and help arrange a sutible inspection.
What information do I need to provide before an inspection?
It is helpful to provide the lift's location, manufacturer and model, rated capacity, number of floors served and intended use. I is also useful if you provide us with copies of the previous report of thorough examination and details of any known faults and modifications.
Can multiple lifts and other lifting equipment be inspected during one visit?
Yes, inspections for multiple lifts can often be co-ordinated at the same or nearby locations. This can help reduce the cost of inspections.
Providing equipment lists and & the latest examination dates helps us plan the site visit efficiently.
It can also be beneficial to combined lift inspection visits with the inspections for other lifting equipment on site.
Should lifts be inspected after repairs or modifications?
Significant repairs, alterations or exceptional circumstances may require an additional examination before a lift is returned to service. The need and scope should be determined by a competent person, and we are able to help you with this.
Do you provide inspections across multiple sites?
If your service covers multiple locations, we can arrange inspections for individual sites or your wider portfolio of properties.
Scheduling multiple sites in an area into a visit can help reduce the overall costs of your inspections.
Contact our team to discuss site locations, equipment types and scheduling requirements.