LOLER Inspections Greater Manchester
Lifting Equipment Inspections
The main legislation concerning lifting equipment for your business in Greater Manchester is The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). It applies to all types of work equipment that are used to lift or lower a load.
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When your LOLER inspection is overdue — or about to be...
If you’re reading this, you probably already know you need a LOLER inspection. The real question is whether the certificate has expired, or is about to.
A LOLER thorough examination is not a service you can quietly defer. Once a certificate has expired, the equipment is no longer compliant for use under Regulation 9 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, and most insurers and many client contracts treat in-date LOLER certification as a precondition for cover or for access to site. The longer it drifts, the bigger the conversation becomes.
If you’ve landed here because your cert has run out, your previous inspector has gone quiet, or your head office has flagged it after an HSE visit at a sister site, call 01782 855481. You’ll speak to a senior engineer who can quote and answer technical questions on the same call — no broker, no call-centre triage, no being passed between departments. Where a job is genuinely urgent, tell us; we route around our planned work where we reasonably can.
What LOLER actually requires (without the legal lecture)
LOLER applies to any work equipment used to lift or lower a load, and to the accessories used to attach that load. That covers the obvious (overhead cranes, forklifts, MEWPs, scissor lifts, vehicle lifts, patient hoists, goods and passenger lifts) and the items often forgotten in a plant audit: shackles, slings, chains, lifting beams, hooks, eyebolts, magnets, vacuum lifters, runway beams, gantries, jib cranes and tail lifts.
A LOLER inspection — thorough examination of lifting equipment — is more than a visual once-over. It’s a systematic assessment by a competent person under Regulation 9, recorded against the 11 items required by Schedule 1, with a written report you can produce on demand for the HSE, your local authority, your insurer or an internal auditor.
Statutory examination intervals, in summary: –
- Every 6 months for equipment used to lift people (passenger lifts, MEWPs, mast climbers, patient hoists, gondolas).
- Every 6 months for lifting accessories (chains, slings, shackles, hooks, eyebolts, magnets).
- Every 12 months for all other lifting equipment (forklifts, overhead cranes, jib cranes, tail lifts, vehicle lifts, goods lifts).
- Per a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person, where standard intervals do not fit — heavy-duty use, harsh environments, equipment subject to abnormal stress, or unusual specifications.
A thorough examination is also required before first use, after major modification or repair and after any exceptional event that may have affected safety.
Lifting equipment we examine across Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester’s industrial profile is genuinely mixed. In any given month our work across the region might cover:
- Forklift trucks, reach trucks, order pickers for warehouses, distribution centres, and manufacturing floors.
- Overhead cranes, jib cranes, runway beams, gantries for fabrication shops, engineering works, and metals processing.
- MEWPs, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, mast climbers for construction sites, building maintenance, signage, and external works.
- Vehicle lifts and tail lifts for bus and HGV depots, fleet workshops, and vehicle servicing operations.
- Patient hoists, ceiling track hoists, mobile hoists for care homes, nursing homes, supported living, and hospital sites.
- Goods lifts and passenger lifts in offices, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education.
- Lifting accessories including slings, chains, shackles, hooks, eyebolts, magnets, vacuum lifters, and lifting beams.
If your equipment is not on that list, contact us. Older industrial sites across Greater Manchester throw up unusual kit, and the question of whether something falls under LOLER, PUWER or both is exactly the kind of thing a senior engineer can clear up for you.
GSB Inspection Services
Covering all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs
Greater Manchester is ten boroughs working as one city-region: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan.
We work across all ten — from the warehousing and logistics density of Trafford Park, through the advanced-manufacturing footprint of Atom Valley in the north-east of the region, to the care and residential sector that runs through every borough and the offices, retail, and hospitality concentrated in the regional centre.
Our current Greater Manchester work spans utilities, power generation, manufacturing, hydraulics, civil engineering, transport and fleet operations, care and residential services, hospitality, paint and chemicals, adhesives, food retail, HVAC and building services, and events.
The point isn’t the list; it’s the breadth. Whatever sits on your asset register, the chances are we have inspected something similar somewhere else in the region.
If you operate sites across more than one borough — a manufacturer with a head office in Stockport and a finishing plant in Oldham, a care provider running locations across Trafford, Salford, and Manchester, a fleet operator with depots in multiple boroughs — one LOLER inspections programme handled by a single provider keeps your records consolidated, your reminder dates aligned, and your audit position straightforward.
If you sit outside those areas — Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, or Trafford — ring us anyway. Our coverage across the region is the same; we simply have not written individual pages for every borough yet.
What happens on the day of your inspection
You do not need to take the day off for a LOLER inspection. Most jobs are completed in a few hours, depending on equipment volume and site access. On arrival:
1
Site induction. (if required)
Whatever your site’s procedure — visitor sign-in, PPE check, induction video, permit-to-work — our engineer follows it.
2
Equipment review.
We work through your equipment list, examining each item against LOLER Schedule 1: structural condition, lifting components, safety devices, controls, identification and markings, and recent operational history.
3
If we identify anything that means a piece of equipment should not be used until it is remedied, you are told immediately on site, not in a report a fortnight later. Where the defect is serious enough to require it, the relevant enforcing authority is notified as the regulation requires.
4
Written report.
You receive a thorough examination report covering everything required by Schedule 1: equipment identification, date and place of examination, defects found, recommended actions, the next due date, and the competent person’s details. Reports are made available through our client portal so you can produce them on demand.
Why businesses in Greater Manchester choose GSB
Three things tend to matter most when buyers switch to us.
- Competence under the regulation. All of our engineers have achieved professional registration with the Engineering Council (or are working towards), they are competent persons under Regulation 9 of LOLER. We are SAFed Associate Members — the Safety Assessment Federation is the recognised trade body for engineering inspection in the UK, and Associate Membership requires demonstrated technical capability and adherence to the SAFed code of practice.
- Direct contact with senior staff. When you ring or email, you reach a senior engineer or director. Quotes and technical questions are handled on the same call — no broker chain, no call-centre triage, no waiting to be passed to an account manager who is out until Tuesday. That speed of decision-making is the single thing businesses tell us they miss most when working with larger providers.
- Genuine independence. We sell inspections. Not equipment, not maintenance contracts, not spare parts. There is no commercial incentive to fail an item that is safe and no awkwardness in flagging an item that is not. Our 5 star Google rating reflects buyers who got an honest assessment, on time, in plain English.
The work is the engineering. The reports stand up to insurers, auditors and the HSE.
LOLER Inspections in Greater Manchester
At GSB Inspections, we specialise in carrying out thorough LOLER inspections in Greater Manchester and the surrounding area. As per Regulation 9 of LOLER, it is mandatory to have a competent person conduct a comprehensive inspection of lifting equipment.
Lifting equipment refers to work equipment designed for lifting or lowering loads, including the attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it.
A thorough examination involves a systematic and detailed examination of the lifting equipment to detect any defects that are, or could become a safety hazard.
Typical inspection frequencies:
- Lifting equipment that lifts persons – 6 monthly
- Lifting accessories including shackles, hooks, chains – 6 monthly
- All other lifting equipment – 12 monthly
If you require additional information regarding lifting gear inspections and frequencies in Greater Manchester, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Our Commitment To Your Safety
We Are A Proud Associate Member Of The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed)
As an associate member of the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), GSB Inspections demonstrates our commitment to complying with industry competency standards and the code of practice set by SAFed. This affiliation emphasizes our dedication to maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.
How to book a LOLER inspection
We’ve designed our LOLER inspection process to be straightforward and cause minimal disruption to your business:
1
Send an equipment list
Email us on info@gsbinspections.co.uk or complete the enquiry form on this page. You provide us with a plant schedule/equipment list, when it was last inspected and any operational requirements. There’s no complex procurement process – just a direct conversation with our team.
2
Receive a quote
Once we have all the information we need from you regarding your equipment, we will provide you with an annual quote or a one-off inspection fee depending on your preference.
3
Confirm a date
We will work around your operational requirements where we can. Shutdown periods, out-of-hours, weekends: tell us what suits and we will see what fits.
4
Our engineer visits your site, carries out the thorough examination and flags anything that needs immediate attention before they leave.
5
The report
You’ll receive a detailed inspection report documenting our findings. This includes information on the equipment examined, the date of examination, any defects identified and when the next examination is due. This report is essential for demonstrating your LOLER compliance to the HSE or your insurers.
6
Ongoing support
We can set up reminder systems for your next inspection due dates so you never miss a required examination. If you have questions about your report or need advice, we’re always happy to help.
GSB Inspections Reviews
Client Satisfaction
Excellent service & communications
Gary Jackson
Inspected transferable winch units with, greatly appreciated, additional guidance covering separate requirements for accompanying D shackles and inspection schedule. Very diligent service and great value.
Andrew Piekarczyk
Been using GSB for a year, great service keeping all our plant and machinery in certification
James Plant
Great service. Would highly recommend and will use again.
Jade Furey
Prompt and professional friendly service.
Apples & Pears Nursery
Great bloke, reliable, informative, pleasure to deal with.
Gary Jackson
Service, communication, support and advice has been excellent, Garry has gone out of his way to support our school with issues arisen from council maintenance, he has gone out of... read more
Miss H Morrey
Well what a great service Gary provides, always does a very thorough job, can't recommend enough, we always Gary really great guy.
Daz Griffiths
Excellent service very competent knowledgeable and professional staff Would highly recommend
Carl Eades
Gary has been doing MPi ltd's lifting certifications, air compressor tank and roller shutter door inspections for a number of years now. I have always found him a pleasure to... read more
matt page
Excellent service, very thorough and practical
Kerry Callear
My first contact was with Gary and he dealt with my query and questions brilliantly. He explained the process, it was easy to sort and it went smoothly. Expected contact... read more
Mrs B
Gary has been doing our certifications for the last few years. Very professional and very reliable. A**
Rob Scanlan
Useful Greater Manchester resources
Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU
Telephone: 0161 778 7000
The strategic authority for the city-region, covering economic policy, transport, and the work programmes that shape industrial activity across the 10 boroughs.
Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WD
Telephone: 0161 393 4321
The UK’s largest accredited Chamber of Commerce. Useful for business support, training and regional networking, particularly for SMEs working through compliance, growth and recruitment.
Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS
HSE is the enforcing authority for industrial workplaces such as factories, manufacturing sites, construction, and many warehouses. Note: HSE offices are not open to the public — guidance is best accessed via hse.gov.uk, and incidents are reported through the online RIDDOR service or by calling 0345 300 9923 for fatal or major injuries.
Your borough council
For workplaces such as offices, shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, care homes, nurseries and most warehouses, the local council — not HSE — is the enforcing authority for health and safety. In Greater Manchester that means one of the 10 borough councils: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, or Wigan. If you are unsure which applies to your site, the environmental health team at your borough council is the fastest route to clarity.
Frequently asked questions
LOLER stands for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. It is a set of regulations in the United Kingdom that aim to ensure the safe use of lifting equipment and protect both operators and those nearby.
The purpose of a LOLER inspection is to ensure that lifting equipment is safe to use and in proper working condition. These inspections help identify any defects or potential hazards that could compromise safety during lifting operations.
The duty to ensure compliance with LOLER lies with the owner or operator of the lifting equipment. Employers, business owners, or organisations that use lifting equipment are typically responsible for arranging LOLER inspections.
The frequency of LOLER inspections depends on the type of lifting equipment and its intended use. Generally, thorough examinations (inspections) should take place at least every six months for lifting equipment that lifts persons or lifting accessories. All other lifting equipment every 12 months.
LOLER inspections must be carried out by competent individuals with relevant knowledge and experience in inspecting and examining lifting equipment. This may be an internal employee who has received proper training or an external competent inspection service like GSB Inspections.
No, it is essential to comply with LOLER regulations. Operating lifting equipment without a thorough examination, as required by LOLER, is not only unsafe but also illegal. GSB Inspections helps you meet these legal obligations and ensures the safety of your equipment.
Yes, failure to comply with LOLER regulations can lead to legal consequences, including fines and potential imprisonment in serious cases. Moreover, using unsafe lifting equipment puts people at risk and may lead to accidents and injuries.
Scheduling a LOLER inspection with GSB Inspections is easy. Simply fill out the contact form below and we will assist you in setting up an inspection appointment at a time convenient for you.
LOLER applies to a wide range of industries and lifting equipment used for various purposes. GSB Inspections serves diverse industries and can inspect various types of lifting equipment, including cranes, forklifts, hoists, passenger/goods lifts, and mechanical lifting devices.
Stop using the equipment until it has been examined and passed, then ring us. Once a certificate has expired, the equipment is no longer LOLER-compliant for use and continued operation exposes you both to the safety risk the regulation is designed to prevent and to enforcement action. We will arrange an examination as quickly as our scheduling allows. Most businesses we speak to have inherited the overdue situation rather than created it.
Yes. Where you have several sites within Greater Manchester, or across the wider North West, depending on the amount of equipment per site, we can run them as a single inspection programme with aligned renewal dates and consolidated reporting.
Ideally, your last full Report of Thorough Examination for each item, your equipment register and the dates of last examination. If you do not have any of that, we can still work from a physical asset list; we would just need a bit more time on the first inspection to record everything from scratch. The handover does not have to be complicated.
A LOLER thorough examination is a statutory inspection to identify defects that could compromise safety. A service is preventative maintenance — replacing worn parts, lubricating, calibrating. They are different exercises and, ideally, carried out by different people, because the competent person under LOLER must be sufficiently independent of the maintenance function to make objective findings. Many duty holders run both in parallel.
In everyday language, the same thing. “Thorough examination” is the formal term in the regulations (Regulation 9, LOLER 1998). “LOLER inspection” is what most buyers actually search for and how most equipment owners refer to it. The output of either is a statutory examination report meeting the requirements of Schedule 1.
Yes. The report covers everything required by Schedule 1 of LOLER: equipment identification, date and place of examination, defects found, recommended actions, the next due date, and the competent person’s signature and credentials. Insurers, internal auditors, and HSE inspectors all work to the same Schedule 1 standard.
Yes. We work across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, plus the wider North West. We have written dedicated pages for some boroughs (Manchester, Stockport, Wigan) and will add others over time, but the coverage is the same everywhere in the region. Ring 01782 855481 and we will confirm scheduling.
Yes! As an associate member of the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), GSB Inspections demonstrates our commitment to complying with industry competency standards and the code of practice set by SAFed. This affiliation emphasises our dedication to maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.
Require A LOLER Inspection in Greater Manchester?
No middle person, direct contact, fast turnaround.
Please complete the form below to submit your enquiry. To speed up the process please provide your equipment list.
info@gsbinspections.co.uk
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