LOLER 1998 · Lifting equipment

Chain hoist thorough examination

Independent thorough examination and certification of your chain hoist as lifting equipment, by a competent person under LOLER.

A chain block is small, portable and easily forgotten, which is exactly why it fails an examination more often than the big lifting gear. A stretched load chain or a slipping brake gives little warning, and LOLER requires it examined like any other lifting equipment.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
12 monthsA chain hoist lifting loads
6 monthsIf it is used to lift or support a person
Chain to hooksLoad chain, top and bottom hooks, the load brake and the gearing
ReportA Report of Thorough Examination, your legal record
Lifting equipment we examine

Why your chain hoist needs LOLER examination

A chain hoist does a lot of lifting for its size, and it gets moved from job to job, which is how it slips off the maintenance register. Whether it is a hand chain block, a lever hoist, or an electric or air-powered unit, it is lifting equipment, and LOLER requires a thorough examination by a competent person who is independent of whoever supplies it.

For all its simplicity, a chain hoist concentrates the load into a few small, highly stressed parts: the load chain, the top and bottom hooks, and the load brake that holds the load when you stop pulling. These are what an examination measures, because when one of them is past its limit there is rarely a warning, just a dropped load. A unit used to lift or support a person moves into the six-month bracket.

Hand chain blocks
Lever hoists
Electric chain hoists
Air-powered hoists
Load chain
Top and bottom hooks
Load brake
Trolleys and beam clamps
How it works

How we examine your chain hoist

A competent person examines the hoist in full, with the load chain run out and the brake proven under load. We measure the load chain for wear and stretch against the manufacturer's limit, examine the top and bottom hooks for throat opening and the latch, test the load brake for hold and slip, and check the gearing, the chain guide and, on powered units, the limit switches and the suspension.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the hoists you run, manual or powered, and where they are based.

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent person examines each hoist, with the load chain measured and the brake proven under load.

  • 3

    Your record

    You receive a Report of Thorough Examination for each hoist, with any defects and the next date set out.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine the hoist, we do not sell or hire it
  • Competent persons who measure the load chain and prove the brake, not just eyeball it
  • Every hoist examined and recorded, however small, so none slips off the register
  • Reports issued promptly, with defects and the next due date flagged
What we examine

Chain hoist: what a thorough examination covers

Load chain

Measured for wear and stretch over a set number of links against the manufacturer's limit, and examined for nicks, gouges, corrosion and twist, because a chain stretched past tolerance can fail without warning.

Top and bottom hooks

Both hooks checked for throat opening, wear, cracks and twist, with the safety latch proven to close, since an opened hook throat is a sign the hoist has been overloaded.

Load brake

The brake that holds the load when the chain is released, tested for hold and slip, because a glazed or worn brake lets a load creep or run.

Gearing and chain guide

The gears, the pinions and the guide that feeds the chain onto the load sheave, examined for wear so the chain seats correctly and does not jump.

Suspension and limit switches

The top suspension hook or lug, and on powered units the upper and lower limit switches, so the hoist stops before two-blocking or running the chain out.

Trolley and beam clamp

Where the hoist runs on a beam, the trolley wheels, the adjustment to the beam flange and the anti-drop, so the hoist stays on its runway with a load raised.

Intervals and certification

How often, and what you receive

A chain hoist lifting loads is examined at least every twelve months. The interval comes down to six months for any hoist used to lift or support a person, and a competent person can set a shorter interval for heavy or continuous use. Because hoists are portable and easily moved between jobs, the discipline that matters most is keeping every unit on the register, so none is quietly left in a corner unexamined. Each hoist carries its own identity and its own date, and the examination is independent of the supplier and of any in-house check.

6 monthsEquipment that lifts people, and all lifting accessories
12 monthsOther lifting equipment, unless an examination scheme sets otherwise
Schedule 1A Report of Thorough Examination, your legal record
IndependentWe examine it, we do not sell or maintain it

You receive a Report of Thorough Examination, the record LOLER requires, with anything that needs attention set out clearly.

The price follows your equipment, not a rate card: see what drives a LOLER quote.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full LOLER inspection service

Chain hoist is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full LOLER inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

PUWER inspectionInspection of work equipment against the five PUWER duties, with a written record. PSSR examinationWritten Schemes and certified examination of pressure systems. LEV testingLEV thorough examination and test of your extraction systems.
LOLER FAQs

Chain hoist examination: common questions

Does a chain hoist need a LOLER thorough examination?
Yes. A chain hoist is lifting equipment, however small or simple, so LOLER applies and a competent person examines it independently of whoever supplies it. You can read the duty in the HSE guidance on LOLER.
How often does a chain hoist need examining?
At least every twelve months when it lifts loads, and every six months when it is used to lift or support a person. A competent person can set a shorter interval for heavy or continuous use.
Do manual chain blocks count, or only electric hoists?
All of them. Hand chain blocks, lever hoists, and electric and air-powered hoists are all lifting equipment, and each needs a thorough examination under LOLER on the same basis.
Is it a certificate or a report?
You receive a Report of Thorough Examination, the record LOLER requires. It is often called the LOLER certificate, but the legal document is the report. Our guide to LOLER sets out what it must contain.
How is the load chain assessed?
It is measured for wear and stretch over a set number of links, against the manufacturer's limit, and examined for nicks, gouges, corrosion and twist. A chain that has stretched past tolerance is replaced, because it can fail with little warning.
What is the load brake and is it tested?
The load brake is what holds the load when you stop pulling the chain. We test it for hold and slip, because a worn or glazed brake lets a suspended load creep or run, which is one of the more dangerous faults a hoist can develop.
Who is competent to examine a chain hoist?
A competent person with the knowledge and experience to measure the chain, prove the brake and judge the hooks, and who is independent of the company that supplies or hires the hoist.
Do you examine chain hoists across the UK?
Yes. We work nationwide, with engineer surveyors who travel to sites wherever they are, a single block or a workshop full of them. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.

Is your chain hoist due a thorough examination?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote