Most incidents involving lifting equipment don’t happen because something suddenly snaps or fails without warning. More often, they occur because responsibility has been assumed rather than clearly understood. We see this regularly when speaking with end users, many of whom believe that the service provider or inspection company bears most of the responsibility for keeping equipment safe. In reality, PUWER and LOLER divide these duties across several roles and each one plays a crucial part in maintaining safe and compliant lifting operations. Understanding how these responsibilities fit together is key to preventing problems long before they have the chance to develop.
The Regulations Behind Everything
Two key regulations apply in the United Kingdom which are PUWER and LOLER.
PUWER, which stands for the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations ensures equipment is suitable for its intended use, well maintained and only used by trained and competent people.
LOLER which stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations requires thorough examinations before first use and then at routine intervals throughout the products/system serviceable life.
Typically, this means:
- Every six months for lifting accessories and equipment that lifts people
- Every twelve months for lifting machines
- Or according to a written scheme of examination in higher risk situations
Together, these regulations rely on three levels of checking:
- Operator pre-use checks
- Routine inspection and maintenance
- Thorough examinations by a competent person
If these level work properly and are carried out correctly, major issues with the equipment should be rare.
The Duty Holder
Every piece of lifting equipment has a duty holder.
Often this is the employer, but it can also be equipment owner, site owner, building owner or hire company and the duty holder carries all the legal accountability under PUWER and LOLER.
They can delegate tasks, but they can’t delegate responsibility, so if others are appointed to inspect, maintain or examine equipment, the duty holder must be confident they are competent and properly equipped to carry out the work at the correct standard and are not just selecting them for other reasons, such as cost for instance.
Getting Procurement Right
Procurement plays a bigger role in safety than many people think.
Choosing equipment should never come down to price alone and must be chosen based on:
- Its suitability for the task
- The environment it will be used in
- The standards it must meet
- The level of training required to use it safely
Basically, all equipment should be technically correct and fit for purpose, as good decisions made at this stage prevents many future problems occurring.
The Lifting Equipment Examiner
The examiner is the competent person responsible for carrying out the thorough examination. Their job is to identify defects, assess their seriousness and report them clearly. Once the report is issued, it is the duty holder’s responsibility to act on the findings and investigate the root causes. In this way, the examiner serves as the final safety net, rather than the primary safety system.
Inspectors and Interim Inspections
Inspectors carry out routine inspections between thorough examinations. Their work is guided by manufacturer information, usage levels, environmental conditions and a proper risk assessment. They need detailed knowledge of the equipment and must maintain accurate, accessible records. Quick reporting of defects helps prevent small issues from developing into dangerous problems.
Maintenance Personnel
Maintenance teams address faults as they arise or as part of a planned maintenance schedule. They must use the correct parts and tools and keep a clear maintenance log. Strong maintenance underpins the entire safety system, because if maintenance is weak, defects often reappear later in the process.
Operators and Pre-Use Checks
Operators are the first line of defence and must use equipment according to their training while carrying out basic pre-use checks. Any unusual noises, visible damage or changes in operation must be reported immediately. Most serious faults begin as small symptoms that could have been caught early if the checks were done properly.
Why Shared Responsibility Matters
Lifting equipment is safest when everyone understands their role. A thorough examination should confirm that a system is working correctly, not uncover problems that should have been addressed long before.
At Hoist UK, we promote a shared responsibility approach because it protects both people and equipment. When procurement teams, operators, inspectors, maintenance personnel, and examiners all work together, lifting operations become safer, smoother, and more predictable. If you’d like to review your own responsibilities or strengthen your processes, we’re always open to a conversation.