Lifting Beams/Rails Inspection

The use of Rails and Beams for the raising and lowering of goods and personnel is widespread in buildings across the UK. A typical example is a loading bay beam at a warehouse entrance used for lifting and lowering items to a lorry. Failure of such a beam could have horrific consequences.

In the majority of buildings, the beams display a Safe Working Load (SWL) sticker, and its heritage is well documented. In these circumstances, our engineers can quickly and easily establish a testing procedure. However, in buildings where the Safe Working Load sticker is absent and its provenance is unknown, we will work with you to determine the testing requirements for the equipment.

Once we have established the testing criteria for your Beam or Rail, we will develop a planned inspection and testing process in accordance with LOLER 1998 regulations to ensure you remain compliant.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) 1998 states that:
every employer shall ensure that lifting equipment which is exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is –
(a) thoroughly examined –
(i) in the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons or an accessory for lifting, at least every six months;
(ii) in the case of other lifting equipment, at least every 12 months; or
(iii) in either case, in accordance with an examination scheme; and
(iv) each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardise the safety of the lifting equipment have occurred; and,
(b) if appropriate for the purpose, is inspected by a competent person at suitable intervals between thorough examinations.

Frequency of inspection

Where lifting equipment is used for the raising/lowering of personnel, our engineers would undertake a 6-monthly thorough examination and load test.