TL;DR: Every suspended access cradle used in the UK, whether a temporary davit-mounted platform or a permanent building maintenance unit (BMU), must have a LOLER thorough examination by a competent person at least every six months, in addition to daily pre-use checks by the operator. LOLER 1998 covers the lifting equipment itself (wire ropes, hoists, safety devices), while BS EN 1808:2015 governs the cradle’s design and construction and PUWER 1998 covers safe use and operator training. A cradle that fails its examination cannot legally be used again until the defect is fixed and it is re-certified. Responsibility for arranging inspections usually sits with the equipment owner, so if you hire a cradle, check that your supplier can produce a current LOLER certificate for the specific unit before work starts, not just a general accreditation.
What Is a LOLER Thorough Examination?
A LOLER thorough examination is a detailed, hands-on inspection of lifting equipment carried out by a competent person, someone with the practical and theoretical knowledge to detect defects and assess whether they matter for safety. For a cradle, that means checking the platform structure, the hoists, the wire ropes, the suspension rig, the safety devices (overload protection, secondary brakes, anti-tilt devices) and the anchor points it is rigged from.
It is a legal requirement under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. It is separate from, and in addition to, the daily visual checks an operator carries out before using the equipment each day.
How Often Does a Cradle Need a LOLER Inspection?
For suspended access equipment used to carry people, such as cradles, work cages and BMUs, LOLER requires a thorough examination at least every six months. That is more frequent than the 12-month interval that applies to most other lifting equipment, because cradles carry people at height and any failure has serious consequences.
A cradle also needs a thorough examination:
- Before it is used for the first time, unless the manufacturer has already supplied a valid examination certificate less than 12 months old.
- After it has been installed at a new location or significantly altered.
- After any event likely to have affected its safety, such as an overload, a collision, or extreme weather exposure.
On a long-term contract, a supplier should be able to show you a rolling schedule of six-monthly examination dates for the life of the hire, not just a single certificate at the start.
What Does a LOLER Inspection Actually Check?
A thorough examination is more detailed than the operator’s daily check. A competent person will typically examine and test:
- The structural integrity of the cradle platform, including welds, guardrails and floor plates.
- Wire ropes and slings for wear, corrosion, kinking or broken strands.
- Hoists, gearboxes and motors for wear and correct operation.
- Safety devices, including overload cut-outs, secondary safety ropes or fall-arrest devices, and anti-tilt mechanisms.
- Anchor points, davit sockets or monorail track fixings, since a cradle is only as safe as what it is rigged to.
- Control systems and emergency stop and lowering functions.
The examination ends in a written report. If the equipment is safe to use, the report states the date of the next examination. If a defect is found that could cause a serious risk, the report must say so, and the equipment cannot be used until it is remedied.
BS EN 1808 vs LOLER vs PUWER vs Work at Height Regulations: What Is the Difference?
These four pieces of legislation and standards work together, but they cover different parts of a cradle hire project. Building owners and facilities managers are often unclear which one is which, so here is a plain-English comparison.
| Standard / Regulation | What It Covers | Who It Applies To | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS EN 1808:2015 | Design, construction, stability and testing of the cradle itself | Manufacturers and suppliers of suspended access equipment | The cradle must be designed and built to this European safety standard before it is ever hired out |
| LOLER 1998 | Thorough examination and certification of lifting equipment in use | Whoever owns, hires out or has control of the cradle | Thorough examination by a competent person at least every six months |
| PUWER 1998 | Safe use, maintenance and operator competence | Employers and anyone directing how the cradle is used on site | Operators must be trained, and equipment must be maintained in efficient working order |
| Work at Height Regulations 2005 | Planning, supervision and fall prevention for any work above ground level | Anyone organising or supervising work at height | A written risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) before work begins |
In short, BS EN 1808 is about how the cradle was built, LOLER is about proving it is still safe to lift, PUWER is about how it is used day to day, and the Work at Height Regulations are about how the whole job at height is planned and supervised.
Who Is a “Competent Person” Under LOLER?
HSE defines a competent person as someone with the appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the equipment to detect defects and assess their importance for safety. In practice, this is usually an engineer employed by an accredited inspection body or by the cradle hire company itself, holding recognised qualifications and independent from day-to-day commercial pressure to pass equipment that should not pass.
Ask any potential supplier who carries out their thorough examinations and whether that person or body is accredited (for example, through a UKAS-accredited inspection body or a SAEMA member). A supplier who cannot answer this clearly is a red flag.
Who Is Responsible: The Building Owner or the Cradle Hire Company?
This depends on the hire arrangement, and it is worth clarifying in writing before work starts.
- Contract hire with an operator supplied by the cradle company: the hire company is normally responsible for LOLER examinations, maintenance and operator competence, as they retain control of the equipment.
- Dry hire (equipment only, no operator): responsibility can shift to the hirer for the duration of the hire, so it is essential to confirm the examination schedule and certification before taking control of the equipment.
- Permanent BMU or monorail systems installed on a building: responsibility usually sits with the building owner or managing agent for the life of the installation, which means budgeting for ongoing six-monthly examinations as a facilities management cost, not a one-off.
Whichever applies, the building owner or facilities manager carries reputational and legal exposure if an uncertified cradle is used on their building, so it is sensible to ask for evidence rather than take a supplier’s word for it.
What Happens If a Cradle Fails Its Inspection?
If a competent person identifies a defect that poses a risk to people, the examination report must record it and state that the equipment is not safe to use until the defect is fixed. A copy of that report must, by law, be sent to the enforcing authority (the HSE or local authority) if the defect could result in imminent risk. The cradle stays out of service until it is repaired, re-tested and a new certificate is issued.
This is why routine, planned examinations matter more than reactive ones. A supplier working to a rolling six-month schedule can flag and fix wear before it becomes a failed inspection, whereas a supplier who waits until something goes wrong is managing risk far too late.
How to Check a Cradle Hire Company’s Compliance Before You Book
Before signing off on a supplier for cradle hire, cladding access or facade maintenance work, ask to see:
- A current LOLER thorough examination certificate for the specific cradle being supplied, dated within the last six months.
- Evidence the cradle meets BS EN 1808:2015 or, for older equipment, BS 5974:2017.
- Proof of operator training and induction records under PUWER.
- A written RAMS document for the specific project.
- Recognised accreditation such as CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline or SAEMA membership.
Greater London Cradles is CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline and SAEMA accredited, and every cradle, monorail system and work cage we supply is maintained on a documented LOLER examination schedule. You can view our accreditations here, or read our full guide to cradle hire in London for a broader look at costs, cradle types and choosing a supplier.
If you manage a building and are not confident your current access equipment is compliant, or you are planning cladding, cleaning or maintenance work and need a supplier who can prove it from day one, get a free site survey and quote and we will confirm exactly what equipment and inspection schedule your project needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a cradle need a LOLER inspection?
At least every six months, carried out by a competent person, in addition to the operator’s daily pre-use checks. This is more frequent than the 12-month cycle that applies to most other lifting equipment because cradles carry people at height.
What is the difference between LOLER and BS EN 1808?
BS EN 1808:2015 is the design and construction standard the cradle must be built to. LOLER 1998 is the ongoing legal requirement to have that equipment thoroughly examined and certified as safe to keep using. One is about how it was built, the other is about proving it still works.
Who is responsible for arranging a cradle’s LOLER inspection?
Usually whoever owns, hires out or retains control of the equipment. On contract hire with an operator, that is normally the cradle hire company. On dry hire, or for permanent BMU and monorail systems installed on a building, responsibility can sit with the building owner or managing agent.
Can I use a cradle if its LOLER certificate has expired?
No. If a thorough examination is overdue or the equipment has failed inspection, it should not be used until it has been re-examined and certified safe. Using expired or uncertified lifting equipment is a breach of LOLER 1998 and puts operatives and the public at risk.
What documents should a cradle hire company provide before work starts?
A current LOLER thorough examination certificate for the specific unit, evidence of BS EN 1808 or BS 5974 compliance, operator training records, a project-specific RAMS document, and recognised accreditation such as CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline or SAEMA membership.
This guide was prepared by the Greater London Cradles team, a trading name of Skyform Ltd, CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline and SAEMA accredited access specialists with over 40 years of combined experience delivering cradle hire, monorail systems and facade access solutions across London.