Free LOLER crane thorough examination checklist
Free LOLER crane thorough examination checklist (PDF-ready). Covers UK LOLER 1998 Regulation 9 for 12-month crane examinations. Download free.
Updated 10 Aug 2026
LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist
Thorough examination per UK LOLER 1998 Regulation 9
Structural Members
Wire Ropes
Hooks and Sheaves
Brakes and Controls
Safety Devices
Outriggers and Stability
Documentation and Certification
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Key takeaways
- The MapTrack LOLER crane thorough examination checklist contains 37 checks across 7 sections. Sections covered: Structural Members, Wire Ropes, Hooks and Sheaves, Brakes and Controls, Safety Devices, Outriggers and Stability, Documentation and Certification.
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What is a LOLER crane thorough examination checklist?
A LOLER crane thorough examination checklist is a structured inspection document used to support the thorough examination of cranes required under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), Regulation 9. LOLER applies in Great Britain and requires that all lifting equipment, including mobile cranes, tower cranes, overhead cranes and loader cranes, undergoes a thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months (or 6 months if the crane is used to lift persons). The thorough examination must be as thorough as is appropriate to detect defects that could result in danger. It is more detailed than a routine inspection and covers structural integrity, wire ropes, chains and lifting accessories, hooks and safety catches, brakes (hoist, slew and travel), safety devices (overload protection, limit switches, anti-two-block), hydraulic and electrical systems, outriggers and stabilisers, and the load-indicating device. The competent person (typically a third-party insurance company engineering surveyor or an independent qualified engineer) must issue a written report of thorough examination in the prescribed format. If a defect involving a risk of serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must notify the relevant enforcing authority (HSE) and the owner immediately. This checklist supports the competent person by providing a structured format to work through all the required examination items and record their findings.
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Benefits of using this LOLER crane thorough examination checklist
- LOLER compliance: meet Regulation 9 requirements for thorough examination of cranes at 12-month (or 6-month) intervals with a documented report.
- Defect detection: a structured examination sequence ensures that structural, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical defects are systematically identified.
- Competent person support: the checklist provides a comprehensive framework for the examining engineer to record findings against each examination item.
- Statutory reporting: if a serious defect is found, the structured format supports the statutory notification to HSE and the equipment owner.
- Insurance and compliance records: completed examination reports satisfy insurance company requirements and provide evidence for HSE enforcement visits.
- Lifecycle management: linking thorough examination reports to the crane asset in MapTrack builds a complete examination history that supports resale valuation, fleet planning and end-of-life decisions.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise crane checklists in MapTrack, you get:
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What to include in a LOLER crane thorough examination checklist
This LOLER crane thorough examination checklist covers 11 key areas:
- Crane details: type (mobile, tower, overhead, loader), make, model, serial number, SWL/rated capacity, owner details.
- Examination details: competent person name, organisation, date, previous examination date, examination scheme reference.
- Structural examination: boom, jib, turntable, chassis, outrigger beams, counterweight mounting, A-frame or mast.
- Wire ropes and chains: hoist rope, luffing rope, pendant ropes, equaliser ropes, rope terminations, chain condition.
- Hooks and attachments: hook body, safety catch, swivel, thrust bearing, block and sheaves.
- Brakes: hoist brake, slew brake, travel brake, luffing brake, parking brake.
- Safety devices: load moment indicator (LMI), rated capacity indicator (RCI), anti-two-block, boom angle indicator, wind speed indicator, limit switches.
- Hydraulic system: cylinders, hoses, fittings, valves, hydraulic oil condition.
- Electrical system: controls, switches, indicators, lighting, earthing, cable condition.
- Outriggers and stabilisers: extension, locking pins, pads, level indicators.
- Report of thorough examination: findings, defects identified, classification (safe to use / not safe to use / repairs required), next examination due date.
How to use this LOLER crane thorough examination checklist
- Record the crane details, competent person credentials and examination date. Review the previous examination report and any maintenance records.: Enter the crane type (mobile, tower, overhead, loader), make, model, serial number, SWL or rated capacity and the owner or operator details. Record the competent person name, organisation, qualifications and the date of this examination. Obtain the previous thorough examination report and review any open defects, recommendations or conditions. Review the maintenance log to understand what work has been carried out since the last examination. This background informs the current examination and highlights areas that need particular attention.
- Conduct a visual and structural examination of the boom, jib, turntable, chassis, outriggers and counterweight system.: Examine the main boom sections for dents, cracks, corrosion, paint blistering (which may indicate underlying corrosion) and deformation. Inspect jib sections, pendants and connection pins. Check the turntable, slew ring bolts and bearing for play, corrosion and correct torque. Examine the chassis, track frames or carrier for structural damage. Inspect outrigger beams, cylinders, locking pins and pads for cracks, leaks and secure operation. Verify the counterweight mounting bolts and brackets are intact and the counterweight configuration matches the manufacturer specification.
- Inspect wire ropes, chains, hooks, sheaves and all lifting accessories for wear, damage and compliance with manufacturer specifications.: Examine the hoist rope, luffing rope, pendant ropes and equaliser ropes for broken wires (count per lay length against the discard criteria in BS 6570 or the manufacturer specification), diameter reduction (more than 10 percent from nominal typically requires discard), corrosion, kinking, bird-caging and crushed sections. Check rope terminations for security. Inspect the hook body for throat opening increase (more than 5 percent of the original is a discard criterion), twist, cracks and safety catch operation. Examine sheaves for groove wear, cracking and bearing play. Inspect all chains for elongation, link wear, distortion and corrosion.
- Test all brakes (hoist, slew, travel, luffing) and safety devices (LMI, RCI, anti-two-block, limit switches).: Test each brake system under controlled conditions. The hoist brake must hold the rated load without drift. The slew brake must hold the superstructure against wind loading. Travel brakes must hold the crane on the maximum operating grade. The luffing brake must hold the boom at any angle without creep. Test the load moment indicator (LMI) and rated capacity indicator (RCI) by approaching the rated capacity at a known radius and confirming the device alarms and cuts out at the correct threshold. Test the anti-two-block device by running the hook block towards the boom tip and confirming the hoist stops before contact. Test all limit switches for hoist, luffing and travel.
- Examine hydraulic and electrical systems for leaks, damage and proper function.: Inspect all hydraulic cylinders (hoist, luffing, telescope, outrigger) for leaks, scoring and seal condition. Check hydraulic hoses for chafing, cracking, bulging and secure fittings. Examine hydraulic valves, the oil cooler and the reservoir. On the electrical side, check the main control panel, switches, indicators, cab lighting and external lighting for correct operation. Inspect cable reels, slip rings and trailing cables for wear and damage. Verify earthing connections are intact. For tower cranes, check the climbing mechanism, bolted connections and electrical supply cable for condition and security.
- Complete the report of thorough examination. Record all findings, classify the crane condition and specify the next examination due date. If a serious defect is found, notify the owner and HSE immediately.: Compile all findings into the written report of thorough examination in the format required by LOLER Schedule 1. Classify the crane as safe to use, safe to use with conditions (specify repairs required and the timeframe), or not safe to use (immediate withdrawal from service). Specify the next thorough examination due date, which must not exceed 12 months (or 6 months for personnel lifting). Under LOLER Regulation 10, the report must be issued to the employer within 28 days. If a defect that involves a risk of serious personal injury is identified, the competent person must send the report to the relevant enforcing authority (HSE) and the crane owner immediately, not within 28 days.
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LOLER Regulation 9 requires a thorough examination at intervals not exceeding 12 months for lifting equipment, or 6 months for lifting equipment used to lift persons (e.g. a crane with a man-basket). The thorough examination must also be carried out before the crane is used for the first time, after assembly or installation at a new location, and after any major repair or modification. Between thorough examinations, routine inspections should be carried out in accordance with the examination scheme. In MapTrack, you can schedule the 12-month or 6-month thorough examination per crane asset and receive alerts when the next examination is due.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- LOLER 1998 - Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, Regulation 9 (thorough examination)
- LOLER 1998 - Regulation 10 (reports and defects)
- BS 7121 - Code of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes
- HSE L113 - Safe Use of Lifting Equipment (LOLER ACOP)
LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist preview
The numbers behind this LOLER crane thorough examination checklist
Every figure below is sourced and dated, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without having to chase the original report.
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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Crane details: type (mobile, tower, overhead, loader), make, model, serial number, SWL/rated capacity, owner details.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Examination details: competent person name, organisation, date, previous examination date, examination scheme reference.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Structural examination: boom, jib, turntable, chassis, outrigger beams, counterweight mounting, A-frame or mast.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Wire ropes and chains: hoist rope, luffing rope, pendant ropes, equaliser ropes, rope terminations, chain condition.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Hooks and attachments: hook body, safety catch, swivel, thrust bearing, block and sheaves.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Brakes: hoist brake, slew brake, travel brake, luffing brake, parking brake.</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/loler-crane-thorough-examination-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
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Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.
The MapTrack LOLER crane thorough examination checklist contains 37 checks across 7 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/loler-crane-thorough-examination-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). LOLER Crane Thorough Examination Checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/loler-crane-thorough-examination-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/loler-crane-thorough-examination-checklist.
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