Does lifting equipment need load testing?
Not usually. HSE says most lifting equipment doesn’t need routine testing as part of its LOLER thorough examination. The examiner decides, based on risk, whether a load test is needed. That’s typically after installation, after a repair to a load-bearing part, or when the equipment’s history is unknown. HSE also warns that some overload tests can cause damage.
“LOLER testing” is one of the phrases I hear a lot, and it causes a lot of confusion. LOLER asks for a thorough examination. A load test is one tool the examiner can use as part of it, when there’s a reason to. It isn’t something every piece of equipment needs every 6 or 12 months.
Why do so many people think it’s a legal requirement?
It's partly by habit - The older rules that LOLER replaced in 1998 put more weight on test certificates, and many people still expect one. And partly because some companies that sell load testing present it as standard, sometimes saying equipment can’t be certified without one.
HSE’s guidance on thorough examinations is clear: “Most lifting equipment does not need routine testing as part of the thorough examination.” Whether a test is needed, and what kind, is for the competent person to decide, based on an assessment of risk.
What is a load test?
A load test puts a known weight on the equipment and checks how it copes. There are a few kinds:
Proof load test. A load above the safe working load, applied in a controlled way, to show the equipment has a margin of safety. The amount above depends on the type of equipment and the standard it’s built to.
Static test. The load is lifted just clear of the ground and held, to check for slipping, bending or brake problems.
Dynamic test. The load is lifted, lowered and moved through the equipment’s normal motions, to check the brakes, limits and controls work under load.
The load usually comes from certified test weights or water bags, sometimes measured with a load cell. Any test carried out should be recorded on the report of thorough examination.
When is a load test needed?
Situation | Load test usually needed? | Why |
Routine 6 or 12-month thorough examination | No | HSE says most equipment doesn’t need routine testing. The examination is visual, functional and, where needed, measured |
New equipment with a Declaration of Conformity, not assembled on site | No | The manufacturer has already tested it. HSE says it doesn’t need a thorough examination before first use if the declaration is under 12 months old |
Crane, hoist or runway installed or assembled on site | Often | Its safety depends on how it was installed, so it must be examined before first use (LOLER Regulation 9(2)), and the examiner may ask for a test |
After a repair or replacement of a load-bearing part | Often | The examiner needs to be sure the repair holds |
Second-hand equipment with no paperwork or an unknown history | Often | There’s no evidence of how it’s been used or repaired |
After an overload, a dropped load or damage | Sometimes | It’s examined first. A test is added if the examination alone can’t confirm it’s safe |
Passenger lifts | Supplementary tests at set intervals | Tests of things like the safety gear and overspeed governor, usually done by your maintenance contractor when the examiner asks |
Slings, chains and shackles | Rarely | They’re proof-tested when they’re made. The 6-month examination checks wear and damage |
Who decides whether to load test?
The competent person carrying out the thorough examination. Not the supplier, not the insurer, and not a standing order on the contract. A good examiner will tell you why they want a test, what kind, and what they need you to provide. If you’re being charged for a load test at every examination with no explanation, it’s fair to ask why.
Can a load test damage equipment?
It can. HSE warns that “some overload tests can cause damage to lifting equipment.” Loading something beyond its safe working load is a deliberate stress on it, and doing that again and again for no reason doesn’t make the equipment safer. A load test also has limits. It shows the equipment held the load on the day. It doesn’t measure wear in chains or wire ropes, find early cracks, or tell you how long a worn part will last. That’s what the examination is for, sometimes with non-destructive testing (NDT) on safety-critical parts.
What does a load test involve on the day?
If the examiner does ask for one, it needs planning:
the right test weights or water bags, and a way to lift and handle them safely
a clear area and an exclusion zone while the load is up
someone to operate the equipment
time, because a test takes longer than an examination alone
What should your report say?
The report of thorough examination should record any test carried out. A test certificate on its own isn’t a thorough examination. If all you’ve got is a sheet saying “proof load tested” with no examination details, defects or next-due date, it doesn’t meet LOLER. Have a look at our sample report to see what a full report covers.
Examinations, with tests only where they’re needed
We examine cranes, hoists, lifts, forklifts, MEWPs, vehicle lifts and lifting accessories across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough and Lincoln, and out to Newark, Mansfield and Grantham. We also travel anywhere in the UK.
Every examination is carried out and signed by me, Ryan Leavesley MSOE MBES, an engineer surveyor with 14 years’ experience. We don’t sell testing, hire or repairs, so if I ask for a load test, it’s because the equipment needs one. Reports are written on site before I leave, and once we’ve agreed a price, it stays fixed for all your ongoing examinations.
Just installed something, or bought it second-hand? Read does new lifting equipment need a LOLER inspection? and buying second-hand lifting equipment. Or tell us what you’ve got and we’ll come back with a fixed quote.
FAQs
Is load testing a legal requirement under LOLER?
Not routinely. LOLER requires a thorough examination by a competent person. HSE says most lifting equipment doesn’t need routine testing as part of that examination. The examiner decides, based on risk, whether a load test is needed.
How often should lifting equipment be load tested?
There’s no fixed interval for load tests. The equipment needs a thorough examination at least every 6 or 12 months, and a test is added only when the examiner judges it necessary, for example after installation or a repair to a load-bearing part.
Who decides if a load test is needed?
The competent person carrying out the thorough examination. HSE says the need for testing should be based on an assessment of risk. It shouldn’t be decided by whoever is selling the test.
What is a proof load test?
A test where a load above the safe working load is applied to the equipment in a controlled way, to show it has a safety margin. The size of the load depends on the type of equipment and the standard it’s built to.
Does new lifting equipment need a load test?
Not usually. Equipment with a Declaration of Conformity under 12 months old has been tested by the manufacturer. But equipment assembled or installed on site, like an overhead crane, needs examining before first use, and the examiner may ask for a test.
Do passenger lifts need load testing?
Passenger lifts have supplementary tests, such as tests of the safety gear and overspeed governor, at intervals set in industry guidance. These are usually carried out by the maintenance contractor when the examiner asks for them.
Can a load test replace a thorough examination?
No. A load test shows the equipment held the load on the day. It doesn’t measure wear or find early defects. A test certificate on its own doesn’t meet LOLER, which requires a report of thorough examination.
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