How often do lifts need a thorough examination under LOLER?
- 3tasks
- 5sources
- checked on
- Englandscope
Under LOLER, a lift provided for use at work that carries people must be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months, and a goods-only lift at least every 12 months, unless a competent person has drawn up an examination scheme that sets different intervals.
What to do, and how often
| Task | How often | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorough examination by a competent person Applies to: Passenger lifts and any lift used to carry people, where the lift is provided for use at work | Every 6 months | Competent person, sufficiently independent of the lift's routine maintenance | Law Regulation 9(3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998: at least every 6 months for lifting equipment for lifting persons. SourcesS1S4 |
| Thorough examination by a competent person Applies to: Lifts that only carry goods, where the lift is provided for use at work | Every year | Competent person | Law Regulation 9(3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998: at least every 12 months for other lifting equipment. SourcesS2S3 |
| Thorough examination after exceptional circumstances, such as damage, failure or a long period out of use | No fixed intervalEvent-driven | Competent person | Law Regulation 9(3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 requires examination each time exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise safety have occurred. SourcesS1S3 |
Where a row says who or what it applies to, the task is for that case only.
The law
Regulation 9 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) requires lifting equipment used at work to be thoroughly examined at least every 6 months if it lifts people and at least every 12 months otherwise, or in accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.
The standard
No British Standard sets the legal interval. HSE's leaflet INDG339 gives guidance for lift owners.
Records to keep
- Report of thorough examination for each lift, showing the date of the next examination
- Records of defects notified and the action taken
- Lift maintenance records (maintenance is separate from thorough examination)
Notes
LOLER applies to lifts provided for use at work. HSE's guidance says owners of lifts used mainly by members of the public may find the same regime helps them meet their general health and safety duties.
Routine servicing does not replace the thorough examination, and HSE advises that the person who maintains the lift should not also carry out the examination.
Who delivers this in the group
Not a group service
This is not delivered by an AMPM Group company. It is listed because building managers need the whole picture.
Questions people ask
Passenger and goods lifts (thorough examination): which tasks are legal requirements?
Every task on this page rests on legislation: thorough examination by a competent person (every 6 months; passenger lifts and any lift used to carry people, where the lift is provided for use at work); thorough examination by a competent person (every year; lifts that only carry goods, where the lift is provided for use at work); thorough examination after exceptional circumstances, such as damage, failure or a long period out of use (event-driven).
Passenger and goods lifts (thorough examination): who should carry out each task?
Competent person, sufficiently independent of the lift's routine maintenance: thorough examination by a competent person. Competent person: thorough examination by a competent person; thorough examination after exceptional circumstances, such as damage, failure or a long period out of use.
Passenger and goods lifts (thorough examination): what records should you keep?
Keep these records: report of thorough examination for each lift, showing the date of the next examination; records of defects notified and the action taken; lift maintenance records (maintenance is separate from thorough examination).
Passenger and goods lifts (thorough examination): which tasks have no fixed interval?
Thorough examination after exceptional circumstances, such as damage, failure or a long period out of use: event-driven.
Sources
Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“in the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons or an accessory for lifting, at least every 6 months”
Supports: Six-monthly examination for equipment that lifts people
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“in the case of other lifting equipment, at least every 12 months”
Supports: Twelve-monthly examination for other lifting equipment
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Thorough examination and testing of lifts: Simple guidance for lift owners (INDG339 rev1) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Revised January 2008 · read on
“every 12 months if it only carries loads, or in accordance with an examination scheme”
Supports: HSE guidance for lift owners
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Thorough examination and testing of lifts: Simple guidance for lift owners (INDG339 rev1) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Revised January 2008 · read on
“Regulation 9 of LOLER requires that all lifts provided for use in work activities are thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals.”
Supports: LOLER applies to lifts provided for use in work activities
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Thorough examination and testing of lifts: Simple guidance for lift owners (INDG339 rev1) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Revised January 2008 · read on
“If you are the owner of a lift used primarily by members of the public, you may also find this guidance helps you to comply”
Supports: HSE on lifts used mainly by the public