Scissor Lifting Table Thorough Examinations

Scissor Lifting Tables Within Industry

Portable scissor lifting tables are compact lifting devices designed to raise and lower loads to a convenient working height. They use a scissor-style mechanism powered manually, electrically, or hydraulically, allowing materials to be lifted smoothly and safely. Their portable design, often featuring wheels or castors, makes them easy to move around a workplace and position where needed, reducing the need for manual lifting.

These lifting tables are commonly used to support tasks such as assembly, packing, loading, and maintenance. By raising loads to an ergonomic height, they help reduce strain on workers and lower the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Many portable scissor lifting tables can be fitted with features such as foot pumps, hand controls, locking wheels, and tilting platforms to suit specific applications and improve safety.

Portable scissor lifting tables are used across a wide range of industries. In manufacturing and engineering, they are used for component assembly and machine maintenance. Warehousing and logistics operations use them for handling cartons, pallets, and goods during packing and dispatch. They are also common in retail stockrooms, automotive workshops, food processing, healthcare environments, and laboratories.

By improving efficiency, safety, and ergonomics, portable scissor lifting tables play an important role in modern workplaces. Their versatility and ease of use make them a valuable solution for industries that require frequent lifting, positioning, or height adjustment of materials and equipment.

What’s covered during your SEIS Thorough Examination.

A LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998)thorough examination of an Scissor Lifting Table, is a legally required inspection carried out  by a competent person to ensure the scissor lifting table is safe for continued use. Below is a detailed breakdown of what is typically covered:

 General Examination

Verification that the scissor lifting table 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
  •  Confirmation that all safety markings (SWL, ID plates) are legible and accurate.

 Structural Integrity

  • The scissor structure check for structural integrity.
  • End carriages and connection points inspected for alignment, wear, and secure bolting.
  • Examination of welds and joints for signs of fatigue or failure.
  • Panels checked for security.
  • Lifting cage or lifting bed check for damage and overall integrity.
  • Securing fixings checked to ensure suitable and suitably torqued.
  • Pivot pins and keep bolts checked for suitability, correct torque of any fixings and any damage noted.
  • Brakes check their effectiveness in stopping the machinery.
  • Steering joints (if fitted) check for excessive wear or play.

 Mechanical Components

Hydraulic system / hoisting system:

  • Condition of the hydraulic pump unit, hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic hoses.
  • Check for cracks, fractures or excessive corrosion noted to the jib structure and lifting carriage or lifting bed.
  • Wear pads for excessive wear or damage.

Electrical Systems (if electrically powered)

  • Inspection of control panels, emergency stops, and isolation devices
  • Check all wiring, insulation, and connectors for damage or overheating.
  • Verify operation of travel, hoisting, and lowering.
  • Verify any entrapment switches (if fitted)

 Safety and Control Systems

  • Emergency stop circuits tested.
  • Entrapment switches ensure correct function.
  • Overload device ensure correct function.

Functional Testing

Operate the scissor lifting table under a test environment, and check for the following;

  • Smooth operation of all motions.
  • Effectiveness of switches and limiters.
  • Stability during lifting and movement.
  • lowering function.

 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
  • 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 scissor lifting table LOLER inspection ensures that the lifting elements of the machine are safe, compliant, and fit for use. It helps prevent accidents caused by worn, 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.

Scissor Lifting Table FAQ's

Yes — if the scissor lifting table is used for lifting loads as part of a work activity, it is classed as lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 1998) and must undergo a statutory Thorough Examination.

If the table is used to lift people, it is subject to stricter inspection intervals.

Under LOLER, a Thorough Examination is required:

  • Every 12 months for lifting goods only

  • Every 6 months if used to lift people

  • After installation and before first use (where applicable)

  • After major repair, modification, or exceptional circumstances

  • At intervals specified in a Written Scheme of Examination

These are statutory minimum requirements in the UK.

A scissor lifting table (or hydraulic lift table) is a platform raised by linked, folding supports in a scissor mechanism. They are commonly used in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, workshops, and loading areas to raise or lower loads safely.

A LOLER Thorough Examination typically includes inspection of:

  • Scissor arms and pivot points

  • Hydraulic cylinders and hoses

  • Platform structure and welds

  • Base frame and fixings

  • Safety locking devices

  • Mechanical stops

  • Control systems and emergency stops

  • Load rating plate (SWL)

  • Guarding and safety features

The competent person assesses whether the equipment is safe to remain in operation.

No. Routine servicing ensures performance and reliability. A Thorough Examination is a legal safety inspection required under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

Both maintenance and statutory examination are required for full compliance.

The inspection must be carried out by a competent person with sufficient technical knowledge of lifting equipment and relevant regulations. Many duty holders use independent inspection providers to ensure impartial compliance.

Why Scissor Lifting Table Thorough Examinations Matter For You & Your Business. 

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 - 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 - 

  • 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. 

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. 

Book LOLER Thorough Examination Near Me

Get In Touch - 0330 043 8191

Name