Oct 6

LOLER or SOLAS?

Purpose and Scope

LOLER applies to lifting equipment used on board for handling loads — cargo, stores, or people — in a way that ensures mechanical safety and integrity.

It covers the lifting appliance itself (such as cranes, derricks, and winches) and the loose gear used with it (such as hooks, slings, and shackles).

The main aim is to prevent accidents caused by failure of lifting gear or unsafe working loads.

SOLAS, on the other hand, governs equipment that contributes directly to the safety of life at sea.

Under SOLAS, lifting arrangements are not general-purpose cargo or store-handling gear, but systems essential for safety or survival — such as lifeboat davits, gangways, accommodation ladders, and pilot ladders.

These are tested and inspected to confirm they can safely perform their life-saving or access functions.

What Equipment is Covered

LOLER equipment includes:

  • Cargo cranes, stores derricks, provision hoists, and similar appliances.
  • Loose gear such as blocks, slings, chains, shackles, and hooks.
  • Any attachments or supporting structures used for lifting or lowering a load.

SOLAS equipment includes:

  • Lifeboat and rescue boat davits (SOLAS Chapter III).
  • Gangways and accommodation ladders, which provide safe access to and from the ship.
  • Pilot ladders (SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23), used for pilot transfers.
  • Associated winches, wires, and fittings forming part of these safety systems.

So, in simple terms:

LOLER → load-handling and work equipment.

SOLAS → life-saving and safety access equipment.
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Inspection and Certification

Under LOLER, the focus is on mechanical safety and compliance with a structured inspection and testing regime:

Thorough examination by a competent person is required after installation, major repair, or modification.

Annual inspections are required, and full re-testing and certification every five years.

Tests may include proof loading (using a load above the Safe Working Load) or destructive testing of samples.

The results are recorded in the Register of Lifting Appliances and Loose Gear.

Under SOLAS, inspections are tied to the vessel’s statutory survey cycle:

Annual surveys of access and launching equipment, covering mechanical parts, winches, wires, brakes, steps, and platforms.

Five-yearly thorough examinations with operational load tests to confirm they can bear their design loads.

Maintenance and testing intervals must also follow the original manufacturer’s instructions (OEM) and SOLAS requirements.
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Safety Focus and Regulation Intent

The key distinction lies in why the equipment exists and what risk it controls:

LOLER is a workplace safety regulation focused on preventing lifting accidents during cargo, stores, or maintenance operations. It falls under the UK Health and Safety Executive framework (enforced through MGN 332 and COSWP Chapter 19).

SOLAS is an international safety convention ensuring that equipment used for life-saving, embarkation, or emergency access functions will perform reliably when human life depends on it.