What does LOLER Regulation 9 require for crane thorough examinations?

LOLER Regulation 9 requires that lifting equipment (including cranes) undergoes a thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or 6 months if the equipment is used to lift persons. The competent person must issue a written report of thorough examination. If a defect that could cause serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must notify the enforcing authority (HSE) and the equipment owner immediately.

Who is a competent person for LOLER thorough examinations?

A competent person for LOLER thorough examinations is someone with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to detect defects or weaknesses in the lifting equipment and assess their significance in relation to the safety and continued use of the equipment. In practice, this is typically a chartered engineer, an insurance company engineering surveyor (e.g. from Zurich, Allianz or RSA) or a qualified third-party inspection engineer. The competent person must be independent and impartial.

How often must a crane have a LOLER thorough examination?

A crane must have a thorough examination at least every 12 months. If the crane is used to lift persons (e.g. with a man-basket), the interval reduces to 6 months. The examination must also be performed before first use, after installation at a new site, and after significant repair or modification. Many crane owners align the thorough examination with their insurance inspection cycle.

What is the difference between a LOLER thorough examination and a routine inspection?

A thorough examination under LOLER is a detailed, in-depth examination by a competent person (often an independent engineer) that results in a formal written report. It covers structural integrity, safety devices, brakes, wire ropes and all critical components. A routine inspection is a less formal check (such as a daily or weekly inspection) performed by the operator or a site-based maintenance technician to verify the crane is safe to operate for that shift. Both are required, but the thorough examination is the statutory examination that generates the formal compliance report.

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Free LOLER crane thorough examination checklist (PDF-ready). Covers UK LOLER 1998 Regulation 9 for 12-month crane examinations. Download free.

Last updated: 2026-04-20

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 20 April 2026

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What is a loler crane thorough examination checklist?

A LOLER crane thorough examination checklist is a structured inspection document used to support the thorough examination of cranes required under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), Regulation 9. LOLER applies in Great Britain and requires that all lifting equipment, including mobile cranes, tower cranes, overhead cranes and loader cranes, undergoes a thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months (or 6 months if the crane is used to lift persons). The thorough examination must be as thorough as is appropriate to detect defects that could result in danger. It is more detailed than a routine inspection and covers structural integrity, wire ropes, chains and lifting accessories, hooks and safety catches, brakes (hoist, slew and travel), safety devices (overload protection, limit switches, anti-two-block), hydraulic and electrical systems, outriggers and stabilisers, and the load-indicating device. The competent person (typically a third-party insurance company engineering surveyor or an independent qualified engineer) must issue a written report of thorough examination in the prescribed format. If a defect involving a risk of serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must notify the relevant enforcing authority (HSE) and the owner immediately. This checklist supports the competent person by providing a structured format to work through all the required examination items and record their findings.

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Benefits of using this loler crane thorough examination checklist

LOLER compliance: meet Regulation 9 requirements for thorough examination of cranes at 12-month (or 6-month) intervals with a documented report.
Defect detection: a structured examination sequence ensures that structural, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical defects are systematically identified.
Competent person support: the checklist provides a comprehensive framework for the examining engineer to record findings against each examination item.
Statutory reporting: if a serious defect is found, the structured format supports the statutory notification to HSE and the equipment owner.
Insurance and compliance records: completed examination reports satisfy insurance company requirements and provide evidence for HSE enforcement visits.
Lifecycle management: linking thorough examination reports to the crane asset in MapTrack builds a complete examination history that supports resale valuation, fleet planning and end-of-life decisions.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise crane checklists in MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
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Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a loler crane thorough examination checklist

This loler crane thorough examination checklist covers 11 key areas:

Crane details: type (mobile, tower, overhead, loader), make, model, serial number, SWL/rated capacity, owner details.
Examination details: competent person name, organisation, date, previous examination date, examination scheme reference.
Structural examination: boom, jib, turntable, chassis, outrigger beams, counterweight mounting, A-frame or mast.
Wire ropes and chains: hoist rope, luffing rope, pendant ropes, equaliser ropes, rope terminations, chain condition.
Hooks and attachments: hook body, safety catch, swivel, thrust bearing, block and sheaves.
Brakes: hoist brake, slew brake, travel brake, luffing brake, parking brake.
Safety devices: load moment indicator (LMI), rated capacity indicator (RCI), anti-two-block, boom angle indicator, wind speed indicator, limit switches.
Hydraulic system: cylinders, hoses, fittings, valves, hydraulic oil condition.
Electrical system: controls, switches, indicators, lighting, earthing, cable condition.
Outriggers and stabilisers: extension, locking pins, pads, level indicators.
Report of thorough examination: findings, defects identified, classification (safe to use / not safe to use / repairs required), next examination due date.

How to use this loler crane thorough examination checklist

Record the crane details, competent person credentials and examination date. Review the previous examination report and any maintenance records.: Enter the crane type (mobile, tower, overhead, loader), make, model, serial number, SWL or rated capacity and the owner or operator details. Record the competent person name, organisation, qualifications and the date of this examination. Obtain the previous thorough examination report and review any open defects, recommendations or conditions. Review the maintenance log to understand what work has been carried out since the last examination. This background informs the current examination and highlights areas that need particular attention.
Conduct a visual and structural examination of the boom, jib, turntable, chassis, outriggers and counterweight system.: Examine the main boom sections for dents, cracks, corrosion, paint blistering (which may indicate underlying corrosion) and deformation. Inspect jib sections, pendants and connection pins. Check the turntable, slew ring bolts and bearing for play, corrosion and correct torque. Examine the chassis, track frames or carrier for structural damage. Inspect outrigger beams, cylinders, locking pins and pads for cracks, leaks and secure operation. Verify the counterweight mounting bolts and brackets are intact and the counterweight configuration matches the manufacturer specification.
Inspect wire ropes, chains, hooks, sheaves and all lifting accessories for wear, damage and compliance with manufacturer specifications.: Examine the hoist rope, luffing rope, pendant ropes and equaliser ropes for broken wires (count per lay length against the discard criteria in BS 6570 or the manufacturer specification), diameter reduction (more than 10 percent from nominal typically requires discard), corrosion, kinking, bird-caging and crushed sections. Check rope terminations for security. Inspect the hook body for throat opening increase (more than 5 percent of the original is a discard criterion), twist, cracks and safety catch operation. Examine sheaves for groove wear, cracking and bearing play. Inspect all chains for elongation, link wear, distortion and corrosion.
Test all brakes (hoist, slew, travel, luffing) and safety devices (LMI, RCI, anti-two-block, limit switches).: Test each brake system under controlled conditions. The hoist brake must hold the rated load without drift. The slew brake must hold the superstructure against wind loading. Travel brakes must hold the crane on the maximum operating grade. The luffing brake must hold the boom at any angle without creep. Test the load moment indicator (LMI) and rated capacity indicator (RCI) by approaching the rated capacity at a known radius and confirming the device alarms and cuts out at the correct threshold. Test the anti-two-block device by running the hook block towards the boom tip and confirming the hoist stops before contact. Test all limit switches for hoist, luffing and travel.
Examine hydraulic and electrical systems for leaks, damage and proper function.: Inspect all hydraulic cylinders (hoist, luffing, telescope, outrigger) for leaks, scoring and seal condition. Check hydraulic hoses for chafing, cracking, bulging and secure fittings. Examine hydraulic valves, the oil cooler and the reservoir. On the electrical side, check the main control panel, switches, indicators, cab lighting and external lighting for correct operation. Inspect cable reels, slip rings and trailing cables for wear and damage. Verify earthing connections are intact. For tower cranes, check the climbing mechanism, bolted connections and electrical supply cable for condition and security.
Complete the report of thorough examination. Record all findings, classify the crane condition and specify the next examination due date. If a serious defect is found, notify the owner and HSE immediately.: Compile all findings into the written report of thorough examination in the format required by LOLER Schedule 1. Classify the crane as safe to use, safe to use with conditions (specify repairs required and the timeframe), or not safe to use (immediate withdrawal from service). Specify the next thorough examination due date, which must not exceed 12 months (or 6 months for personnel lifting). Under LOLER Regulation 10, the report must be issued to the employer within 28 days. If a defect that involves a risk of serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must send the report to the relevant enforcing authority (HSE) and the crane owner immediately, not within 28 days.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

LOLER Regulation 9 requires a thorough examination at intervals not exceeding 12 months for lifting equipment, or 6 months for lifting equipment used to lift persons (e.g. a crane with a man-basket). The thorough examination must also be carried out before the crane is used for the first time, after assembly or installation at a new location, and after any major repair or modification. Between thorough examinations, routine inspections should be carried out in accordance with the examination scheme. In MapTrack, you can schedule the 12-month or 6-month thorough examination per crane asset and receive alerts when the next examination is due.

Frequently asked questions

What does LOLER Regulation 9 require for crane thorough examinations?: LOLER Regulation 9 requires that lifting equipment (including cranes) undergoes a thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, or 6 months if the equipment is used to lift persons. The competent person must issue a written report of thorough examination. If a defect that could cause serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must notify the enforcing authority (HSE) and the equipment owner immediately.
Who is a competent person for LOLER thorough examinations?: A competent person for LOLER thorough examinations is someone with sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to detect defects or weaknesses in the lifting equipment and assess their significance in relation to the safety and continued use of the equipment. In practice, this is typically a chartered engineer, an insurance company engineering surveyor (e.g. from Zurich, Allianz or RSA) or a qualified third-party inspection engineer. The competent person must be independent and impartial.
How often must a crane have a LOLER thorough examination?: A crane must have a thorough examination at least every 12 months. If the crane is used to lift persons (e.g. with a man-basket), the interval reduces to 6 months. The examination must also be performed before first use, after installation at a new site, and after significant repair or modification. Many crane owners align the thorough examination with their insurance inspection cycle.
What is the difference between a LOLER thorough examination and a routine inspection?: A thorough examination under LOLER is a detailed, in-depth examination by a competent person (often an independent engineer) that results in a formal written report. It covers structural integrity, safety devices, brakes, wire ropes and all critical components. A routine inspection is a less formal check (such as a daily or weekly inspection) performed by the operator or a site-based maintenance technician to verify the crane is safe to operate for that shift. Both are required, but the thorough examination is the statutory examination that generates the formal compliance report.

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