LOLER equipment guide

Lifting Accessories LOLER Inspection

LOLER inspection of slings, chains, shackles, eyebolts, hooks and lifting beams across Scotland, with per-item digital records.

Inspection basis

What duty holders need to know.

Accessories connect the load to the lifting machine and are often moved between sites, exposed to damage and stored in mixed batches. Identification and traceability are therefore as important as examining the material condition of each item.

Every accessory should be identifiable against the register and safe working load. Items should be presented clean enough to examine, with damaged or suspect equipment segregated rather than returned to service.

Check the relevant HSE guidance ↗
Examination scope

What we examine on lifting accessories.

The final scope depends on design, use and condition. These are the components and records commonly considered.

  • Chain, wire-rope and textile slings
  • Shackles, hooks and swivels
  • Eyebolts and lifting points
  • Clamps and plate grabs
  • Spreader beams and lifting frames
  • Identification tags and safe working load
  • End fittings, stitching and terminations
  • Compatibility of assembled components
Typical findings

Problems the examination may identify.

  • Missing identity tags
  • Cuts, abrasion or chemical damage to webbing
  • Chain wear, stretch or distortion
  • Bent pins and damaged shackle threads
  • Opened hooks or ineffective catches
  • Unverified mixed components in sling assemblies

Book a lifting accessories inspection

Tell us what equipment you operate, where it is and when it is due. We will confirm the right inspection scope and arrange a practical site date.

FAQs

Lifting accessories inspection FAQs

How often are slings and shackles examined?
Lifting accessories are normally thoroughly examined at least every six months unless a competent person has specified another interval in a written scheme.
What happens to an accessory with no ID tag?
If it cannot be traced to its specification and examination record, it should not simply be assumed safe. It may need to be quarantined, re-identified through an appropriate process or retired.
Do accessories still need pre-use checks?
Yes. User checks before use remain essential and do not replace periodic thorough examination.