Does a winch need a LOLER inspection?
Only if it lifts - A winch that raises or lowers a load is lifting equipment and needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it lifts people. A winch that only pulls a load along the ground isn’t covered by LOLER, but it still needs inspecting and maintaining under PUWER.
Winches are one of the most common “do we or don’t we?” questions I get. The same piece of kit can be lifting equipment on one job and not on the next, depending on what it’s doing?! Here’s how to tell, and what each one needs.
The test: does the load leave the ground?
HSE’s code of practice for LOLER gives a simple rule. “Winching a load where the load does not leave the ground” is listed as an operation that isn’t covered by LOLER.
So:
If the winch lifts the load clear of the ground or its support, even for a moment, it’s lifting equipment. LOLER applies.
If the winch only drags or pulls the load along the ground, LOLER doesn’t apply. PUWER does.
HSE’s flowchart for deciding whether LOLER applies asks the same thing. Is the equipment’s main purpose to lift or lower a load, and is the load lifted free from its supporting structure?
Which winches need what
How the winch is used | LOLER? | What it needs |
Lifting goods or materials, such as a hoist winch on a beam, mezzanine or scaffold | Yes | LOLER thorough examination at least every 12 months, and every 6 months for the rope, hooks and other accessories |
Lifting or lowering people, such as a man-riding winch or theatre flying system | Yes | Thorough examination at least every 6 months, and it must be designed for lifting people |
Pulling a load along the ground, such as an off-road vehicle winch or a cable-pulling winch | No, as long as the load never leaves the ground | PUWER: maintenance, inspection at intervals set by your risk assessment, and trained users |
Winch on a vehicle recovery truck or car transporter | Usually yes | HSE lists vehicle recovery equipment as lifting equipment, so the recovery body is examined under LOLER |
Lever hoist or pull-lift used to lift | Yes | LOLER thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it lifts people. HSE lists pull-lifts as lifting equipment |
Lever hoist or pull-lift used only to pull or tension | No | PUWER inspection at intervals set by your risk assessment |
Electric tugger or capstan pulling trolleys or trailers in a warehouse | No | PUWER: guarding, controls, maintenance and inspection |
Lifting winches: what LOLER requires
If your winch lifts, LOLER regulation 9 requires a thorough examination by a competent person:
at least every 12 months for a winch lifting goods or materials
at least every 6 months if it lifts people, or for lifting accessories such as the rope, hook, shackles and slings
or at the intervals set in a written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person
before first use, if its safety depends on how it was installed
after anything that could affect its safety, such as overloading, damage or a major repair
You should get a written report after each examination, and you must keep it. Any defect that’s an existing or imminent danger has to be put right before the winch is used again. See what a LOLER report should include.
A winch used to lift people must be designed for it. That means extra safety features, such as additional brakes and higher safety factors. A standard materials winch must never be used to lift a person.
Recovery trucks and car transporters
HSE’s LOLER guidance lists “a car transporter or vehicle recovery equipment” as examples of lifting equipment. On a recovery truck, the underlift, the tilting or sliding bed and any crane are lifting equipment, and the recovery body is normally examined under LOLER as a whole, winch included.
An off-road winch on the front of a 4x4, used only to pull a vehicle out of mud, is different. The load stays on the ground, so it’s PUWER.
Pulling winches: what PUWER requires
A winch that only pulls is still work equipment. Under PUWER it must be:
suitable for the job, including being rated for the load you’re pulling
maintained in good working order, following the manufacturer’s instructions
inspected at suitable intervals where it can deteriorate, with the result recorded. The interval comes from your risk assessment, not a fixed rule
used only by people who’ve been trained, including on the danger zone if the rope snaps
The rope, the hook and the anchor point take the most punishment. A steel rope that snaps under tension can whip back and cause serious or fatal injuries, so keep people out of the line of the rope while it’s loaded. Many winch users put a damper or blanket over the rope for this reason.
For the full picture of what PUWER asks for, see PUWER regulations explained.
Never lift with a pulling winch
This is where people get hurt. A winch built for pulling isn’t designed to hold a suspended load. It may not have a brake that will hold a load in the air, and its rope may not have the safety factor lifting needs. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before using any winch for anything other than the job it was built for.
If you need to lift something, use equipment that’s designed and marked for lifting, with a current thorough examination report. HSE’s guidance also warns against the opposite: using lifting equipment to drag loads. Dragging puts side loads on cranes and hoists that they aren’t designed for.
What a winch examination checks
A thorough examination of a lifting winch, or a PUWER inspection of a pulling one, should look at:
the drum, including how the rope is anchored to it and how it spools
the brake, and whether it holds the rated load
the gearbox and motor, for wear, leaks and noise
controls, limit switches and emergency stops
the rope or strap: broken wires, kinks, crushing, birdcaging, corrosion, or cuts, fraying and heat damage on synthetic ropes
the hook and safety catch, and any shackles, sheaves or snatch blocks
the mounting and the structure it’s bolted to, which has to take the full load
markings, including the safe working load
Winch inspections across Nottingham and the Midlands
I’m based in Nottingham and examine winches and other lifting equipment across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough, Lincoln, and the Midlands, for garages, recovery firms, farms, builders, theatres and warehouses.
How I work:
I carry out and sign every examination myself. I’ve been doing this for 14 years.
PULO doesn’t sell, hire or repair equipment, so there’s no reason for me to find faults that aren’t there.
You get a reminder before each examination is due.
Once I’ve quoted, the price is fixed for all your ongoing examinations.
PULO holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and CHAS Advanced.
I can usually examine the rest of your lifting gear on the same visit, including lifting accessories, hoists and cranes. See my lifting tackle page and LOLER inspection costs.
A quick check before every use
Rope or strap: no broken wires, kinks, flat spots, cuts or fraying, especially near the hook and the drum.
Hook: not bent or opened up, and the safety catch closes.
Mounting: bolts tight, and no cracks in the bracket or the structure.
Controls: the remote or switch works, and the emergency stop or free-spool lever is undamaged.
Brake: the winch holds the load when you stop.
Area: nobody standing in line with the rope or between the winch and the load.
The job: is it pulling, not lifting? If it’s lifting, use lifting equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a winch need a LOLER inspection?
Only if it lifts or lowers a load. HSE’s LOLER guidance says winching a load where the load does not leave the ground is not covered by LOLER. A winch that pulls is covered by PUWER instead, while a winch that lifts needs a LOLER thorough examination.
How often does a lifting winch need a thorough examination?
At least every 12 months for a winch that lifts goods, and at least every 6 months if it lifts people. Ropes, hooks, shackles and slings used with it are lifting accessories and need examining at least every 6 months. An examination scheme drawn up by a competent person can set different intervals.
Is a vehicle recovery winch covered by LOLER?
HSE’s LOLER guidance lists vehicle recovery equipment and car transporters as examples of lifting equipment, so recovery bodies are normally examined under LOLER. An off-road winch used only to pull a vehicle along the ground is not lifting equipment and comes under PUWER.
Can I use a vehicle winch to lift something?
No. A winch designed for pulling is not designed or rated for holding a suspended load, and it may not have the brake or rope safety factor that lifting needs. If you need to lift, use equipment designed and marked for lifting, with a current thorough examination.
Does a pulling winch need any inspection at all?
Yes. A pulling winch used at work is work equipment under PUWER. It must be suitable, maintained and inspected at suitable intervals where it can deteriorate, with the inspection recorded. The rope, hook and anchor points take the most wear, so check them closely.
What does a winch examination check?
The drum, brake, gearbox, controls and limit switches, the condition of the rope or strap and its anchorage on the drum, the hook and safety catch, the mounting and the structure it is fixed to, and the safe working load markings. It should also check that the winch is suitable for how it is being used.
What are the warning signs of a damaged winch rope?
Broken wires, kinks, crushing, birdcaging, corrosion, flattened sections and damage near the hook end or the drum anchorage. For synthetic ropes, look for cuts, fraying, glazing from heat and chemical damage. Take a damaged rope out of use straight away.
Who can examine a lifting winch?
A competent person with the practical and theoretical knowledge to find defects and judge how serious they are. HSE says they must be independent and impartial enough to make objective decisions. They can be employed in-house, as long as they have the competence and that independence.
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