LOLER & Equipment Guarding

Date: 22.04.26

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), all lifting equipment must be safe, suitable for its intended use, and properly maintained. A key part of ensuring this safety is the correct use of guards on equipment to protect operators and others from potential hazards.

Guards are essential for preventing access to dangerous moving parts, such as gears, pulleys, chains, and rotating components commonly found on lifting machinery. Effective guarding helps reduce the risk of entanglement, crushing, or contact injuries during operation. In many cases, guarding works alongside other safety measures such as emergency stop controls and warning systems to provide a layered approach to risk reduction.

LOLER requires that lifting operations are planned and carried out safely, which includes ensuring that any guarding is securely fitted, regularly inspected, and not removed or bypassed. Where guards are damaged, missing, or ineffective, equipment must not be used until it has been repaired or replaced.

By combining compliance with LOLER and proper equipment guarding, organisations can significantly minimise risks, protect their workforce, and maintain a safe and legally compliant working environment.