LOLER 1998 · Lifting equipment

Fork-lift truck thorough examination

Independent thorough examination and certification of your fork-lift truck as lifting equipment, by a competent person under LOLER.

A fork-lift truck gets serviced and driven daily, so it is easy to assume the lifting parts are covered too. They are not. The mast, carriage, forks and lift chains are lifting equipment in their own right, and LOLER requires them thoroughly examined.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
12 monthsThe interval for a truck that lifts loads, pulled in by heavy use
6 monthsIf it is fitted to lift a person on a working platform or cage
Mast to forksChains, rams, carriage and fork arms, the lifting parts LOLER covers
ReportA Report of Thorough Examination, your legal record
Lifting equipment we examine

Why your fork-lift truck needs LOLER examination

A fork-lift truck is the most common piece of lifting equipment on a UK site, and the one most often misunderstood. Most fleets run a routine service and many hold a maintenance contract, but neither is a LOLER thorough examination. The examination looks specifically at the parts that lift and hold a load, carried out by a competent person who is independent of whoever maintains the truck.

The split between LOLER and PUWER is where the confusion gathers. LOLER covers the lifting function: the mast channels, the lift chains, the hydraulic rams, the carriage and the fork arms. PUWER covers what makes it a safe vehicle: the brakes, steering, lights and tyres. The two are often combined into a single visit, which is the principle behind industry schemes such as CFTS, but the lifting parts always need the LOLER eye.

Counterbalance trucks
Reach trucks
Rough-terrain fork-lifts
Pedestrian stackers
Mast and lift chains
Hydraulic rams and hoses
Fork arms and carriage
Attachments and clamps
How it works

How we examine your fork-lift truck

A competent person examines the truck through its full lifting range, with and without a representative load. We work up the mast and its channels, check the lift chains for stretch and wear, the hydraulic rams and hoses for leaks and scoring, and the carriage and fork arms for the cracks and heel wear that creep in unseen, then confirm the capacity plate and any attachment before the truck goes back to work.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us your fleet, the trucks and any attachments, and where they are based.

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent person examines each truck through its lifting range, with a test load where needed.

  • 3

    Your record

    You receive a Report of Thorough Examination for each truck, with anything to address flagged and the next date set.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine the truck, we do not sell, hire or maintain it
  • Competent persons who know the LOLER and PUWER split and where each truck wears
  • Examined through the full lifting range, with a representative load where it matters
  • Reports issued promptly, with defects and the next due date set out clearly
What we examine

Fork-lift truck: what a thorough examination covers

Fork arms

Heel wear measured against the blade thickness, plus cracks, splaying and any bend, because a worn or cracked fork can drop a load without warning. Forks are checked and matched as a pair.

Lift chains

Examined for stretch, stiff or seized links and corrosion, and measured against the manufacturer's wear limit. A chain stretched beyond tolerance is replaced, not adjusted.

Mast channels and rollers

The channels the carriage rides in, with the rollers and bearings, examined for wear and free movement so the mast lifts smoothly and squarely under load.

Hydraulic rams and hoses

Lift and tilt rams checked for scoring, drift and leaks, and the hoses for chafing and weeping, so the mast holds its height with a load raised.

Carriage and load backrest

The fork carriage, locating stops and load backrest, examined for distortion and secure location so a fork cannot lift off or shift in use.

Capacity plate and attachments

The data plate present and legible, the rated capacity correct for any attachment fitted, and non-permanent attachments examined as lifting accessories in their own right.

Intervals and certification

How often, and what you receive

A fork-lift truck that lifts loads is examined at least every twelve months. In practice that interval often comes in: heavy multi-shift work, cold stores, foundries and dusty or corrosive sites all bring it down to six months, and a competent person can set those intervals in a written scheme. A truck fitted to lift a person, on a working platform or cage, is examined every six months without exception. Whatever the interval, the examination is independent of the service, and the parts that lift are looked at in their own right.

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

Fork-lift truck 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

Fork-lift truck examination: common questions

Does a fork-lift truck need a LOLER thorough examination?
Yes. The mast, carriage, forks and lift chains are lifting equipment, so LOLER applies to them in their own right, separately from the truck being roadworthy or serviced. You can read the duty in the HSE guidance on LOLER.
Is a LOLER examination the same as a service?
No. A service keeps the truck running and is carried out by the maintainer. A thorough examination is an independent check of the lifting parts by a competent person, against the law, and it does not replace the service or the operator's daily checks.
Is it a certificate or a report?
You receive a Report of Thorough Examination, the record LOLER requires. People often call it the LOLER certificate, and for lifting equipment that is a fair shorthand, but the legal document is the report. Our guide to LOLER sets out what it must contain.
How often does a fork-lift truck need examining?
At least every twelve months if it lifts loads, and every six months if it is fitted to lift a person. Heavy or arduous use brings the date in, and a competent person can set those shorter intervals in a written scheme.
What is the difference between LOLER and PUWER for a fork-lift?
LOLER covers the lifting parts, the mast, chains, rams, carriage and forks. PUWER covers the vehicle parts, the brakes, steering, lights and tyres. Many operators combine both into one visit, the principle behind schemes such as CFTS, but the lifting parts are always examined under LOLER.
Do fork-lift attachments need a separate examination?
Yes. A permanent attachment is examined with the truck, while a non-permanent attachment such as a clamp, rotator or jib is a lifting accessory and is examined every six months in its own right. The rated capacity on the plate must also be correct for whatever is fitted.
Who is competent to examine a fork-lift truck?
A competent person with the knowledge and experience to know what to examine, what to look for and what to do about anything found, and who is independent of the company that maintains the truck. Our engineer surveyors examine fork-lift fleets day in, day out.
Do you examine fork-lift trucks across the UK?
Yes. We work nationwide, with engineer surveyors who travel to sites wherever they are, one truck or a whole fleet. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your shifts.

Is your fork-lift truck 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