The three regulations side by side
LOLER is the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. PUWER is the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. PSSR is the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000. The main difference between LOLER and PUWER is scope: LOLER covers equipment that lifts, and PUWER covers work equipment of every kind. PSSR covers equipment that holds pressure.
LOLER covers lifting equipment. PUWER covers work equipment of every kind. PSSR covers equipment that holds steam or pressurised gas. One machine can fall under two of them, which is why a forklift needs a lifting examination and also falls under the general work equipment rules.
| LOLER 1998 | PUWER 1998 | PSSR 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | Lifting equipment: work equipment for lifting or lowering loads, and accessories that attach loads to it, such as slings and chains (regulation 2) | Any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation for use at work | Systems holding a relevant fluid: steam, or gas above 0.5 bar over atmospheric pressure, and some high vapour pressure liquids (regulation 2) |
| Main duty | Thorough examination by a competent person (regulation 9) | Inspection where safety depends on installation or the equipment can deteriorate dangerously (regulation 6), alongside suitability, maintenance, training and guarding | A written scheme of examination (regulation 8), then examination to that scheme by a competent person (regulation 9) |
| Paperwork | Written report with the particulars in Schedule 1. Dangerous defects are notified at once (regulation 10) | A record of each inspection, kept until the next one (regulation 6(3)) | A signed, dated report sent to the user or owner within 28 days (regulation 9(3)) |
Which regulation covers your equipment
The table lists common workplace equipment. Intervals shown are the regulatory minimums. A competent person can set a different interval through an examination scheme, and some equipment needs examining sooner because of how it is used.
| Equipment | Regulation | What the rules ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Forklift truck, or telehandler lifting loads | LOLER and PUWER | Thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it lifts people. PUWER covers maintenance, training and controls. |
| Cherry picker, scissor lift or other MEWP | LOLER and PUWER | It lifts people, so thorough examination at least every 6 months. |
| Overhead crane or hoist | LOLER and PUWER | Thorough examination at least every 12 months. Its slings and hooks fall under the accessories rule below. |
| Chain, wire or web sling, shackle, hook or eyebolt | LOLER | A lifting accessory, so thorough examination at least every 6 months. |
| Passenger or platform lift | LOLER | It lifts people, so thorough examination at least every 6 months. |
| Goods lift | LOLER | Thorough examination at least every 12 months. |
| Production machine with guards, interlocks and emergency stops | PUWER | Inspection at suitable intervals, set by risk assessment. Guarding and controls are checked against regulations 11 to 19. |
| Power press | PUWER, regulations 32 to 35 | Thorough examination at least every 12 months where it has fixed guards only, otherwise at least every 6 months (regulation 32(4)). |
| Ladder, working platform or fall-arrest system | Work at Height Regulations 2005, with PUWER | PUWER regulation 6 does not apply to equipment covered by regulation 12 of the Work at Height Regulations, which asks for inspection at suitable intervals. |
| Air receiver or compressed air system | PSSR, with PUWER for the compressor | A written scheme of examination, and examination to that scheme. |
| Steam boiler or steam steriliser | PSSR | Steam is a relevant fluid at any pressure, so a written scheme is needed. |
| Hydraulic system | PUWER | Hydraulic oils are not relevant fluids, so PSSR does not apply (HSE). Inspect to your risk assessment. |
| Roller shutter door | PUWER | Work equipment, so inspected at suitable intervals set by risk assessment. |
Equipment that is not on this list still falls into one of the three groups. Ask whether it lifts a load, whether it holds steam or gas under pressure, and then whether it is work equipment at all. In that order, the answers usually settle it.
Two rows have pages of their own. See Lifting Accessories Inspections for slings, chains and shackles, and pressure systems and the written scheme of examination for boilers and air receivers. For power presses and other machinery, the PUWER risk assessment and checklist is the place to start.
Examination, inspection, check: what each word means
The regulations use different words on purpose, and mixing them up is how a business ends up with the wrong paperwork.
| Term | What it is | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Thorough examination | A systematic and detailed examination of the equipment and its safety-critical parts, ending in a written report. PSSR calls its version an examination. | A competent person |
| Inspection | A check that equipment can be operated, adjusted and maintained safely, and that deterioration is caught early. HSE says the need for it, and how often, comes from risk assessment. | Someone suitably trained and competent, often the operator or maintenance staff |
| Pre-use check | A quick visual or functional check before the equipment is used, for example on a sling or a forklift's brakes and lights. | The user |
| Maintenance | Keeping equipment in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair (PUWER regulation 5). | Maintenance staff or a contractor |
| Testing | Load or other tests, used only where the competent person judges them necessary. HSE notes that most lifting equipment needs no routine testing and some overload tests can damage it. | A competent person |
When each one is due
Routine examinations are only part of the picture. Each regulation also asks for an examination or inspection at certain moments in the life of the equipment.
| Trigger | LOLER | PUWER (general) | PSSR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before first use | Thorough examination, unless the equipment is new and has a declaration of conformity under 12 months old (regulation 9(1)) | Inspection after installation, where safety depends on how it is installed (regulation 6(1)) | Where the scheme says so, before first use (regulation 8(3)(c)) |
| After installation or assembly at a new site | Thorough examination where safety depends on installation conditions (regulation 9(2)) | Inspection after assembly at a new site or location (regulation 6(1)) | Set by the written scheme |
| Routine | At least every 6 months for lifting people and for accessories, every 12 months for other lifting equipment, or as an examination scheme sets (regulation 9(3)) | At suitable intervals, with no fixed period (regulation 6(2)) | Within the intervals in the written scheme (regulation 9(1)) |
| After exceptional circumstances | Each time they occur, for example damage, a long period out of use or a major repair, as HSE explains (regulation 9(3)(a)(iv)) | Each time they occur, for example major modification or serious damage, as HSE explains (regulation 6(2)(b)) | Set by the written scheme |
| Between formal examinations | An inspection by a competent person at suitable intervals, if appropriate (regulation 9(3)(b)) | Pre-use and routine checks as your risk assessment sets | Keep the system maintained in good repair (regulation 12) |
| Records | Reports kept for set periods that depend on the type of examination and the equipment (regulation 11) | Each inspection record kept until the next is made (regulation 6(3)) | The last report, and earlier ones if they help judge whether the system is safe (regulation 14) |
When more than one applies
A forklift truck
The truck is lifting equipment, so LOLER requires a thorough examination and a report. The same truck is work equipment, so PUWER requires it to be suitable, maintained, fitted with working controls and driven by trained people. One examination covers the first duty. The other duties are yours to meet day to day.
A compressed air system
The air receiver, its pipework and the safety valve are a pressure system once the air is above 0.5 bar over atmospheric pressure, so they normally need a written scheme of examination. The compressor that feeds them is a machine, so its guards, controls and isolation fall under PUWER. Two sets of rules, two sets of records.
Who has to arrange it
LOLER and PUWER put the duty on the employer. Both also reach any person who has control of the equipment, to the extent of that control. A business that hires a machine in for months, and decides how and by whom it is used, picks up those duties for that period.
PSSR names the user of an installed system and the owner of a mobile system. HSE adds that a user of hired or leased pressure equipment should make sure a written scheme is in place and the examination certificate is current.
Compliance with all three means holding the paperwork each one asks for: the LOLER report of thorough examination, the PUWER inspection record and the PSSR examination report.
How Fox Engineering Safety can help
We carry out LOLER thorough examinations, PUWER inspections and PSSR examinations. We examine equipment and do not sell, hire or repair it, so the report reflects the condition of the equipment and nothing else. Reports are delivered digitally through our customer portal.
If you already know which regulation applies, go straight to the page for it: LOLER 1998 Thorough Examinations, PUWER Inspection & Risk Assessment or PSSR Inspection | Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000. For a checklist, use the LOLER compliance checklist for lifting equipment, or the PUWER checklist in the PUWER risk assessment and checklist guide for work equipment.
Sources
Duties, intervals and definitions on this page come from the legislation and HSE guidance listed here. Read the original when you need the exact wording.
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) Regulations 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and Schedule 1.
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) Regulations 3 to 24 and 32 to 35.
- Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) Regulations 2, 3 and 7 to 14.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12
- HSE: Thorough examinations and inspections of lifting equipment
- HSE: Inspection of work equipment
- HSE: Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR)
- HSE approved codes of practice: L113 Safe use of lifting equipment, L22 Safe use of work equipment, L122 Safety of pressure systems Also at hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l22.htm and l122.htm.