Knowledge - 2026-07-03
PUWER vs LOLER: Which Inspection Does Your Equipment Need?
A clear comparison for duty holders who manage lifting equipment, machinery, mobile plant and workshop assets.
Key takeaways
- LOLER focuses on lifting operations and lifting equipment.
- PUWER applies broadly to work equipment and covers suitability, maintenance, guarding, controls and safe use.
- Some assets need both duties considered.
The short answer
LOLER is specific to lifting equipment and lifting operations. PUWER is broader and applies to work equipment generally. If a machine lifts loads, LOLER may apply to the lifting function while PUWER still applies to the wider equipment condition, controls, guarding and safe use.
For example, a fork lift truck can require a LOLER thorough examination for lifting parts and a PUWER inspection for general work equipment safety. Treating one report as covering everything can leave gaps.
- Fork lift trucks
- Vehicle lifts
- MEWPs
- Loading bay equipment
- Workshop machinery with lifting functions
Where PUWER adds value
PUWER looks at whether equipment is suitable for the task, maintained in safe condition, inspected where deterioration could create danger, and fitted with appropriate controls and guarding.
This matters because many serious equipment risks are not lifting failures. They are contact with moving parts, poor isolation, damaged emergency stops, unstable equipment, unsafe access or use outside the intended duty.
- Guarding and interlocks
- Emergency stops and controls
- Isolation and maintenance access
- Operator position and foreseeable misuse
- Condition after relocation or modification
How to build a sensible inspection register
A useful equipment register should identify which duties apply to each asset. It should not rely on a single catch-all column called "inspection". The responsible person should be able to see whether the item needs LOLER, PUWER, PSSR or another control.
This is where independent inspection support helps. The point is not to create more paperwork; it is to prevent gaps and make the evidence easy to produce when an insurer, auditor or client asks for it.
- List assets by ID and location
- State the inspection duty or duties
- Record the next due date
- Link defects to repair evidence
- Remove sold or quarantined equipment from the active register