Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98)

The above regulation aim to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment prvided for use at work. The regulations apply both to the employed & self-employed.

In general the regulations require that lifting equipment provided for use at work is:

• Strong & stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads.
• Positioned and installed to minimise any risks.
• Used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised and performed by competent persons
• Subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropiate, inspection by a competent person.

What is Lifting Equipment?

A definition of lifting equipment is: if the load falls to the ground, when lifting equipment fails i.e. an arborist then this equipment comes under the loler regulations. As opposed to pulling: if the load remains stationary in the event of an equipment failure, i.e. using a winch to dislodge a hung up tree (although PUWER regs apply).

Lifting Equipment in Arboriculture

The following list are items that ill come under Loler regs’, but this list is not exhaustive.

Climbing rope, Harness, karabiner, prussic loops, friction hitches, spikes, wire flip lines, adjustable lanyards, tool strops, & all lowering / rigging equipment.

All of the above equipment must be, inspected prior to use, have weekly written checks made, be individually marked for identification / history purposes, have certificates of conformity, be inspected by a competent person (6 monthly if lifting people, annually for lowering or after any exceptional circumstance).

Prices for LOLER Inspection

Option one: one climber’s kit, including, harness, rope, and karabiners, flip line: £55 (this does not include any marking).

Option two: £200 per day’s inspection (9am - 4pm).