Why LOLER applies to telehandlers
A telescopic handler is "lifting equipment" within the meaning of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) the moment it lifts a load using its forks, hook, jib, or any other approved attachment. It is also "work equipment" under PUWER. The two regimes overlap. The practical effect is that a telehandler must be:
- Suitable for the work and safe to use (PUWER 1998, Reg. 4 & 5)
- Thoroughly examined by a competent person at the legally specified intervals (LOLER 1998, Reg. 9)
- Marked with its safe working load (LOLER 1998, Reg. 7)
- Used by trained, competent operators (PUWER 1998, Reg. 9; LOLER 1998, Reg. 8)
The thorough examination duty is the one that catches sites out, because LOLER places the duty on the person in control of the equipment — usually the principal contractor or the hirer — and not solely on the supplier. The hirer must satisfy themselves that a current Report of Thorough Examination is in place before the machine is used.
The 12-month Thorough Examination
By law, a standard telehandler used exclusively for lifting materials must undergo a Thorough Examination by a competent person at least every 12 months. LOLER 1998, Regulation 9, sets two intervals:
| Interval | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Every 6 months | Lifting equipment used to lift persons (e.g. a telehandler with a man basket / personnel cage) |
| Every 6 months | Lifting accessories (forks, jibs, hooks, slings, baskets) |
| Every 12 months | Lifting equipment used only to lift loads (a standard fork-fitted telehandler doing pallet duty) |
Crucial exception: If the telehandler is used to lift people — fitted with an integrated man-basket attachment — the machine must be inspected every 6 months. The 6-month rule applies to the machine the moment a man basket goes on the carriage, even if it is only occasionally used.
When you hire a machine from us, the current LOLER certificate is always supplied digitally and physically in the cab. Site managers should check this document before the machine ever turns a wheel.
Daily operator pre-use checks (PUWER)
While LOLER dictates the annual inspection, PUWER requires daily checks. A ticketed operator should visually inspect the following before every shift:
- Boom and Extension — Check for structural cracks, wear on the wear pads, and hydraulic fluid leaks along the boom hoses.
- Load Moment Indicator (LMI) — Ensure the safety computer is functioning, calibrated, and not bypassed. The LMI is a regulatory safety device, not an aid — bypassing or disabling it is a criminal offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- Tyres and Outriggers — Check tyre pressures (critical for lift stability on rubber) and ensure outrigger pads are free of debris. Pneumatic tyres are required for soft ground; foam-filled for landfill and demolition; solid for tarmac yards.
- Attachments — Verify the quick-hitch mechanism is fully engaged and the specific attachment (forks, muck grab, or jib) is rated for the intended load.
The full site-manager's pre-use checklist
This is the working order in which our site managers and customers' senior plant operators check a machine on the morning of arrival. It takes about 15 minutes and should be repeated before each shift.
1. Documentation
- Report of Thorough Examination (RoTE) physically present on the machine or accessible digitally, within the relevant 6 or 12 months.
- F2508 / RIDDOR records: any reportable incident in the last hire cycle disclosed.
- Operator card: CPCS A77 / A77E or NPORS N139 / N139D as appropriate, current HS&E test.
- CE / UKCA mark and Declaration of Conformity present on the machine.
- Manufacturer's load chart visible from the operator's seat, current and legible.
2. Walk-around (machine cold)
- Tyres: no damage to sidewalls; pressures within the manufacturer's range.
- Hydraulic hoses: no chafing, no weeping at the boom-base or extension cylinders.
- Boom and chains: no visible cracks at the welds; extension chains have grease and no kinking.
- Safety decals: load chart, SWL, lifting points, ROPS / FOPS plate all legible.
- Forks: heel angle within manufacturer tolerance (no more than 3% bend); no cracks at the heel; locking pin operates freely.
- Mirrors and cameras: both side mirrors present; rear-view camera operates; cab glass undamaged.
3. Cab and controls (engine off)
- Seat belt present, latches, retracts.
- ROPS / FOPS cab cage intact; no welds repaired without a manufacturer-approved scheme.
- Beacons and lights: orange amber beacon, work lights front and rear, indicators and brake lights all functional.
- Reversing alarm sounds when reverse is selected.
- Hand-brake / parking brake engages firmly, does not creep.
- Fire extinguisher within service date.
4. Cab and controls (engine running, cold-test)
- Boom controls: no jerk, no creep when lever is centred. Boom holds position when engine is at idle.
- Frame levelling (if equipped) works smoothly across full range.
- Outriggers / stabilisers (rotating models) deploy fully and individually; pressure gauges read.
- Slew brake (rotating models) engages and holds the turret.
- Load-moment indicator (LMI) calibrates green / amber / red as boom is extended; the in-cab buzzer sounds at the manufacturer's pre-set threshold.
- Service indicator: no active fault codes; service due date displayed.
5. The lift-test
A short test lift confirms more than every paper check combined. With the operator seated and belted, the machine in the open with no people in the working radius:
- Pick up an empty pallet.
- Extend the boom to ~75% of its rated reach.
- Slew (if rotating) to the full left and right under load.
- Retract the boom and lower the pallet.
The hydraulics should be smooth, the LMI should track correctly, and there should be no audible knocking from the boom-extension chains.
What happens if a machine fails on site?
Downtime kills project margins. If a daily check highlights a critical fault, the machine must be grounded. This is where our network of rapid-response Mobile Plant Fitters comes in. Because our mechanics specialise strictly in heavy construction plant, they carry the specific diagnostics and hydraulic parts required to get your machine compliant and lifting again with minimal delay.
Reasons to refuse the machine
Refuse the on-hire and email the supplier (with photo evidence) for any of the following — all are examples we have seen on a competitor's machine arriving at one of our customer sites in the last 24 months:
- RoTE expired, missing, or referring to a different serial number than the machine
- Boom-base weld repair without a manufacturer-approved scheme
- LMI bypassed, taped over, or showing a fault
- Forks bent more than 3% at the heel
- Hydraulic weep visible at the boom cylinders
- Tyres delaminated or with sidewall damage
We refuse to dispatch any machine in any of those states; if you receive a machine in any of those states from any supplier, decline the on-hire and request a like-for-like replacement at the supplier's cost. The CPA Model Conditions support the customer in this position.
In summary
LOLER places the user — not the supplier — in the duty seat. The Report of Thorough Examination is your single most important piece of paper for telehandler hire. Treat the morning walk-around as the second most important. Together they take about 15 minutes and they are the difference between a compliant site and an HSE Improvement Notice.
This article is reviewed against the current HSE LOLER Approved Code of Practice (L113) and the CPA's "Best Practice Guide for Telescopic Handler Use" (current edition). Last review: 23 May 2026.
