Forklifts, cranes & MEWPs
LOLER Inspection Intervals: The 6-Month and 12-Month Clocks Explained
LOLER 1998 (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) governs thorough examination of lifting equipment. The single most common mistake operators make: treating it as one annual inspection, when it's actually two separate, independently-timed obligations running on the same machine.
The two clocks
The body, mast and chassis of the lifting equipment need a thorough examination at least every 12 months (or every 6 months if the equipment lifts people — certain MEWPs and access platforms). Separately, the forks, chains, hooks and any other lifting accessories need their own thorough examination at least every 6 months, regardless of where the parent machine sits in its 12-month cycle. That's two independent dates on the same forklift — miss the 6-month one, and the machine isn't LOLER-compliant even if the 12-month body exam is current.
Why this catches operators out
Most maintenance schedules are built around the more memorable 12-month date, often bundled with an annual service. The 6-month accessory date quietly lapses in between, with nothing re-flagging it until the next annual visit — by which point it's often been overdue for months without anyone noticing.
What a report needs to show
The examination has to be carried out by a 'competent person' and produce a written report noting any defects — including, critically, anything that's an existing or imminent risk. Reports need to be kept and available: HSE can, and does, ask to see them.
Tracked in FleetCompliance today
FleetCompliance tracks LOLER body/mast and forks/accessories as two separate fields per machine, each with its own reminder schedule — so the 6-month one can't hide behind the 12-month one.
Frequently asked questions
Does a forklift need a LOLER exam every 6 months or 12?
Both, on two separate clocks. The body/mast/chassis needs a thorough examination at least every 12 months. The forks and any separate lifting accessories (chains, hooks) need their own thorough examination at least every 6 months, independent of the 12-month one.
Who can carry out a LOLER examination?
A 'competent person' — someone with the practical and theoretical knowledge to detect defects and assess their significance. In practice this is usually an accredited third-party inspection body or a suitably qualified engineer, not simply whoever last serviced the machine.
What happens if a LOLER report finds a defect?
The examiner must note it on the written report. If it presents an existing or imminent risk, they're legally required to notify the relevant enforcing authority (usually HSE) as well as the equipment's owner or user.
Rules and thresholds referenced here reflect UK regulations at the time of writing. Always confirm current requirements directly with the relevant regulator (DVSA, DVLA, HSE, the Environment Agency or your Traffic Commissioner) before relying on this page for a compliance decision.
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