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Vehicle Lift Inspection
Need your Vehicle Lift inspected in line with LOLER98 regulations? Get a quote today to ensure you remain compliant.
Vehicle Lift Thorough Examinations
Vehicle Lifts Within Industry
Vehicle lifts are mechanical devices designed to raise vehicles off the ground, allowing safe access to their undersides for maintenance, repair, and inspection. They can be hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic and are available in various configurations, including two-post lifts, four-post lifts, scissor lifts, and in-ground lifts. Vehicle lifts provide a stable and secure platform, enabling mechanics and operators to work safely and efficiently on cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles.
These lifts are essential for a range of tasks such as servicing brakes, exhaust systems, engines, and suspension components, as well as for tyre changes, underbody cleaning, and vehicle inspections. Many vehicle lifts include features such as adjustable arms, safety locks, and overload protection to enhance safety and accommodate different vehicle sizes and weights. The ability to lift vehicles quickly and steadily significantly reduces manual handling and improves productivity in workshops.
Vehicle lifts are widely used across the automotive and transport industries. They are a staple in car repair garages, dealerships, service centres, and tyre fitting workshops. Heavy-duty lifts are used in commercial vehicle maintenance, bus depots, and logistics fleets, while specialised lifts are employed in motorsport and vehicle manufacturing for assembly and inspection purposes.
By improving access, safety, and efficiency, vehicle lifts play a crucial role in modern vehicle maintenance and repair operations. Their versatility and reliability make them indispensable in industries that require frequent and safe access to the underside of vehicles, from small automotive garages to large commercial and industrial fleets.
A LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)thorough examination of an Vehicle lift / Motor vehicle lifting table, often to refered to as a car ramp, is a legally required inspection carried out by a competent person to ensure the vehicle lift is safe for continued use. Below is a detailed breakdown of what is typically covered:
 General Examination
Verification that the vehicle lift complies with its manufacturer’s specifications and current legislation.
Check of all relevant documentation, such as:
- CE/UKCA conformity documents
- Maintenance records
- Load test and installation certificates
- Previous thorough examination reports
- Â Confirmation that all safety markings (SWL, ID plates) are legible and accurate.
 Structural Integrity
- Control post and secondary posts checked for corrosion, deformation, or damage.
- End carriages and connection points inspected for alignment, wear, and secure bolting.
- Â Examination of welds and joints for signs of fatigue or failure.
- Stops and buffers at travel limits checked for security and condition.
- Foundation fixings checked to ensure suitable and suitably torqued.
 Mechanical Components
Hydraulic system / hoisting system:
- Condition of the hydraulic pump unit, hydraulic reservoir, hydraulic lift ram and hydraulic hoses.
- Check for cracks, fractures or excessive corrosion noted to the lifting carriage or lifting bed.
- Load nut, safety nut and lead screw (load nut type(s)).
Wire ropes or chains:
- Inspection for broken wires, kinks, crushing, wear, corrosion, chain elongation, or stretching.
- Correct reeving and tension.
Pulleys and sheaves:
- Â Smooth rotation, no sharp edges, no excessive play and correct alignment.
Gearboxes and bearings(load nut type(s)):
- Checked for leaks, abnormal noise, or excessive play.
Electrical Systems
- Inspection of control panels, limit switches, emergency stops, and isolation devices
- Check all wiring, insulation, and connectors for damage or overheating.
- Verify operation of travel, hoisting, and lowering.
 Safety and Control Systems
- Limit switches for upper and lower travel.
- Slack rope switches confirm functionality.
- Load nut wear switches confirm functionality.
- Emergency stop circuits tested.
- Overhead entrapment switch tested and verified.
Functional Testing
Operate the vehicle lift under no-load, and check for the following;
- Smooth operation of all motions.
- Â Effectiveness of switches and limiters.
- Stability during lifting and movement.
 Documentation and Reporting
After the inspection, the competent person will issue a LOLER Thorough Examination Report. This must include:
- Date of the examination
- Details of the equipment inspected
- Findings, including any defects
- Recommendations or required actions
- Â Date of next examination due
- Statement on whether the equipment is safe to continue using
If any serious defects are found that pose immediate danger, they must be reported to the duty holder and the enforcing authority (e.g., HSE) immediately.
 Summary
A vehicle lift LOLER inspection ensures that the lifting elements of the machine are safe, compliant, and fit for use. It helps prevent accidents caused by worn load rope(s), damaged chains, or malfunctioning lifting mechanisms. While it does not replace regular maintenance, PUWER and LOLER inspections are a crucial legal requirement for keeping lifting operations safe and avoiding costly breakdowns or incidents.
Why Vehicle Lift / Motor Vehicle Lifting Table Thorough Examinations Matter For You & Your Business.Â
Why LOLER98 Thorough Examinations Matter
LOLER98 thorough examinations are a legal requirement in the UK for all lifting equipment used at work, and for good reason. These inspections ensure that lifting equipment, such as cranes, hoists, slings, and lifting accessories are safe to use, and fit for purpose. The nature of lifting operations means that equipment failure can lead to catastrophic consequences, including serious injury, fatalities, and significant damage to property. By carrying out regular, scheduled thorough examinations by a competent person, businesses can identify wear and tear, structural damage, or faulty mechanisms before they result in an incident.
Pros of Getting a Thorough Examination in line with LOLER98
Legal Compliance and Risk Reduction: The most obvious advantage is staying compliant with health and safety law. Compliance avoids potential legal action, fines, or even prosecution. More importantly, it drastically reduces the risk of workplace accidents caused by lifting equipment failure.
Improved Safety Culture: Regular inspections foster a proactive safety culture within the organisation. Employees are more likely to trust equipment and feel safe in their work environment when they know thorough checks are in place.
 Extended Equipment Lifespan: Regularly maintained and inspected equipment typically lasts longer. Examinations can identify early signs of damage or fatigue, allowing for preventative maintenance that avoids costly replacements or repairs.
 Insurance and Liability Protection: Insurers may require evidence of LOLER compliance in the event of an incident. Without valid inspection records, insurance claims could be denied or reduced, leaving the business liable for damages.
 Operational Efficiency: Detecting potential issues before they lead to equipment failure helps prevent unscheduled downtime. This keeps operations running smoothly and avoids the knock-on effects of delayed projects or interrupted workflows.
Cons of Failing to Carry Out LOLER Thorough Examinations
 Legal and Financial Consequences: Failing to comply with LOLER can result in enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including improvement notices, prohibition notices, fines, or even prosecution. Legal battles and associated costs can be financially crippling.
 Increased Risk of Accidents: Equipment that hasn’t been thoroughly examined is far more likely to fail. Such failures can lead to injuries or fatalities, particularly in high-risk environments like construction or manufacturing. Beyond the human cost, the reputational damage to a business can be severe and long-lasting.
 Higher Repair and Replacement Costs: Neglecting inspections can allow minor issues to develop into major faults. These may require costly emergency repairs or complete equipment replacement, expenses that could have been avoided through routine examinations.
 Loss of Business and Clients: Clients often expect their contractors or suppliers to uphold strict safety standards. A failure to meet legal obligations like LOLER can result in lost contracts or blacklisting from future work, especially in regulated industries.
 Increased Insurance Premiums or Invalidated Coverage: As mentioned, insurers may increase premiums or deny coverage entirely if a business can't provide evidence of up-to-date LOLER compliance, placing a heavier financial burden on operations.
LOLER thorough examinations aren’t just a box-ticking exercise - they are an essential component of a responsible, safety-first approach to using lifting equipment. The benefits of compliance are wide-ranging, from protecting human life to reducing costs and maintaining operational integrity. Conversely, the risks of neglecting these inspections can be devastating on multiple levels.
Key Points;
Examinations must be carried out by a competent person -Â A competent person is someone with the right practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to conduct thorough examinations of lifting equipment.
Key Points;
Examinations must be carried out in the following situations;
 Before lifting equipment has been put into service, unless -Â
- The equipment has never been used before.
- An EC declaration of conformity has been drafted up and issued no longer than one year prior to the equipment being put into service.
Key Points;
An employer shall ensure that where the safety of lifting equipment depends of installation conditions, it is thoroughly examined;
- After installation and before being put into service.
- After assembly and being put into service at a new site, or a new location at it's current site.
Key Points;
Lifting periods;
- Every 6 months for lifting accessories and attachments, or for lifting equipment which is used for lifting persons.
- Every 12 months for other types of lifting equipment which does not fall into the above or below category.
- In line with an examination scheme, of which, the competent person deems the necessary intervals based on working environment and use etc.Â
Key Points;
 A report of thorough examination must contain the following;
- The date the examination was undertaken and where it was undertaken
- Means of identifying the equipment (make, model, serial number, SWL etc)
- Any findings, comments and defects made by the competent person
- Defects highlighting imminent danger must be forwarded to the relevant authority (HSE) within 28 days.Â
Great experience working with Oliver on the PSSR for our compressors! The team was very professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. They made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We would definitely use them again.
We’ve been using Statutory Equipment Inspection Solutions Ltd for our inspection needs, and their service is unmatched by any competitor we’ve worked with. They are extremely professional, always quick to respond to messages, and consistently provide prompt, detailed reports to help us stay compliant with regulations. Highly reliable and a pleasure to work with — we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
SEIS have delivered LOLER and PSSR Thorough Examinations for us across Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire with the utmost professionalism and the highest standards. With brilliant communication and a friendly, knowledgeable approach, we highly recommend their services.
Oliver at SEIS turned up on short notice to help us out after our current inspections provider let us down. He had our overhead cranes and fork trucks examined, and reports sent to us on the same day. Fantastic service.
The engineer surveyor SEIS sent was personable, and knowledgable. They was happy to work around our operational needs and examined our tailboard lifts with minimal disruption.
Thanks again!
Craig
Thanks again!
Craig