When your team works at height, the equipment you hire becomes part of their safety. That’s why LOLER inspections aren’t optional, they’re the foundation for keeping people and making sure everyone gets home at the end of the day.
Construction and access remain two of the UK’s highest-risk industries. Falls from height, equipment failures and lifting incidents are still common and most are preventable when equipment is properly inspected and maintained.
What protects your operators is the quality, condition and care of the kit that turns up on site.
Why LOLER Matters on Every Job
Anyone using lifting equipment in the UK must comply with The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections. This sets the standards for how lifting equipment must be examined, with thorough checks required to spot:
- structural cracks;
- metal fatigue;
- load-handling weaknesses;
- worn lifting accessories;
- defects that servicing may miss.
The Real Cost of Poorly Maintained Kit
When equipment hasn’t been cared for properly, the consequences go beyond inconvenience. Weak or inconsistent maintenance can result in:
- unsafe baskets and sudden failures;
- breakdowns mid-operation;
- invalidated insurance claims;
- project delays and emergency callouts;
- serious injuries;
- personal liability for supervisors and managers.
Most issues that cause downtime or unsafe conditions can be traced back to the condition of the machine before it ever reaches your site.
How to Check a Platform Has a Valid LOLER Certificate
LOLER inspections must take place every six months for equipment and accessories used to lift people, and every 12 months for other types of lifting equipment.
The Difference With APA: We Protect Your People Before They Step Into the Basket
APA-inspected platforms carry an APS Aftercare decal, showing the date of the last inspection and when the next one is due.
While the legal minimum is usually six months, APA goes further. Every machine in our 350+ strong fleet goes through a full pre-delivery inspection before leaving our yard.
This includes:
- checks on safety decals;
- structural components;
- and overall operational condition.
These deeper checks highlight hidden defects, wear or structural issues that standard checks may not catch, helping to reduce downtime, protect operators and support insurance expectations.
With over 20 years supporting Scotland’s access industry, APA’s consistent, disciplined approach to inspection and maintenance helps customers work safely and efficiently, shift after shift.
If you want platforms you can trust to get your people home safe, hire from APA.
Every machine is LOLER-certified, fully inspected and maintained to the highest standard, long before it reaches your site.
