Lifting Inspection Certificate

Quality Calibration Solutions (QCS) provides expert, third-party inspection of all types of lifting equipment and accessories, issuing the legally required Lifting Inspection Certificate needed to ensure operational safety and regulatory compliance. Our services are essential for any business that lifts and moves loads, helping you prevent catastrophic accidents, protect your workforce, and meet the stringent requirements of national health and safety regulations. We provide the certified assurance you need to operate safely, confidently, and without disruption.

Our inspection services are delivered by certified engineers in full accordance with international standards, including LOLER, OSHA, and ASME, and our quality management systems are certified to ISO 9001.

Why is an Accredited Lifting Inspection Critical?

In any operation involving lifting, the integrity of the equipment is paramount. The failure of a single component can have devastating consequences. A systematic, professional inspection program is not an operational burden; it is a fundamental pillar of safety, risk management, and legal compliance.

Preventing Accidents and Ensuring Worker Safety

This is the most critical reason for diligent inspections. A worn-out sling, a cracked hook, or a faulty crane brake can fail without warning, leading to dropped loads, equipment collapse, and catastrophic accidents that cause severe injury or death. A regular, thorough examination by a competent inspector is the primary defense against such events. It identifies defects, wear, and damage before they can lead to failure, creating a safer working environment for everyone on site and protecting your most valuable asset—your people.

Guaranteeing Asset Integrity and Longevity

Your lifting equipment—from multi-million-dollar cranes to simple chain slings—is a significant investment. Regular inspections are a vital form of preventative maintenance. They identify issues like corrosion, fatigue, deformation, and lubrication failure early, allowing for cost-effective repairs to be made. This proactive approach prevents minor issues from escalating into major, non-repairable damage, thereby extending the safe, operational lifespan of your equipment and maximizing the return on your investment.

Meeting Strict Legal and Regulatory Compliance

In virtually every developed country, the periodic inspection of lifting equipment by a competent person is a legal requirement. In the UK, this is mandated by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998. In the USA, it falls under OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.184 and the ASME B30 series. These regulations stipulate the frequency and scope of inspections and require that a formal record—the Lifting Inspection Certificate or Report of Thorough Examination—is kept for every piece of equipment. Failure to comply can result in prohibitive fines, work stoppages, and criminal prosecution in the event of an accident.

Reducing Costs and Eliminating Downtime

The cost of a robust inspection program is minuscule compared to the costs of failure. An accident results in direct costs (medical bills, legal fees, regulatory fines) and immense indirect costs (project delays, equipment replacement, increased insurance premiums, and damage to corporate reputation). Proactive inspections prevent these events. They also reduce unplanned downtime by identifying potential failures before they occur, allowing maintenance to be scheduled for convenient times rather than reacting to a sudden, disruptive breakdown.

Our Comprehensive Lifting Inspection Capabilities

QCS provides a single source for the inspection and certification of your entire inventory of lifting assets, ensuring consistency and simplified record-keeping.

Types of Lifting Equipment We Inspect

Our certified inspectors are qualified to conduct thorough examinations on a vast range of equipment, including:

Cranes: Mobile Cranes, Tower Cranes, Overhead/Gantry Cranes, Jib Cranes, Lorry Loaders
Hoists & Winches: Electric, Air, and Manual Chain Hoists; Lever Hoists; Winches
Lifting Accessories (Tackle): Fibre and Wire Rope Slings, Chainslings, Shackles, Hooks, Eyebolts, Spreader Beams, Lifting Beams, Plate Clamps
Mobile Plant: Forklift Trucks, Telehandlers, Excavators (for lifting)
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs): Scissor Lifts, Boom Lifts
Personnel Lifting Equipment: Safety Harnesses, Lanyards, Fall Arrest Blocks

Our Advanced Inspection Process and Standards

We conduct inspections to the highest technical standards, strictly following the requirements of LOLER, ASME, and LEEA best practices.

Our standardized inspection process includes:

Visual Examination: A detailed visual check for obvious defects such as cracks, corrosion, deformation, wear, and missing or illegible markings (e.g., Safe Working Load).
Functional Testing: Operating the equipment through its full range of motions to check for correct function, including brakes, limit switches, and safety devices.
Measurement: Using calibrated instruments to measure wear on critical components like chains, wire ropes, and hooks to ensure they are within acceptable tolerance.
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Where required or suspected, we employ NDT methods like Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) or Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) to detect surface-breaking cracks not visible to the naked eye.

Tagging & Certification: Items that pass are tagged or marked with a unique ID and color code (where applicable), and a formal Lifting Inspection Certificate is issued.

Flexible Service Delivery: On-Site and In-House Options

We provide services designed to fit your operational needs:

On-Site Inspection: For fixed equipment (cranes, hoists) and large inventories, our inspectors come to your site, yard, or facility to perform the work, minimizing downtime and logistical hassle.

In-House Inspection: For smaller, portable lifting accessories (slings, shackles), you can send them to our fully equipped facility for inspection, testing, and certification.

Industries That Rely on Certified Lifting Inspections

Construction: The backbone of site safety for cranes, excavators, and all lifting tackle.
Oil & Gas (Onshore & Offshore): For critical lifts in harsh, high-consequence environments.
Manufacturing & Engineering: For overhead cranes, hoists, and production line lifting equipment.
Maritime, Ports & Logistics: For vessel cranes, container handling equipment, and warehouse lifting gear.
Renewable Energy: For the installation and maintenance of wind turbines and related components.

Why Choose QCS for Your Lifting Inspections?

Uncompromising Safety and Industry Accreditation

Our commitment to safety is absolute. Our inspectors are trained and certified by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), the global gold standard for the industry. This accreditation is your guarantee that our work is performed with the highest level of technical competence and ethical integrity.

Fast, Reliable Scheduling to Minimize Your Downtime

We work with you to schedule inspections at times that cause the least disruption to your operations, including during planned shutdowns or off-peak hours. We also offer an emergency call-out service to respond quickly in the event of an incident or equipment damage.

Comprehensive, Audit-Ready Lifting Inspection Certificates

The certificate is the crucial final product. Our reports are clear, detailed, and provide everything an auditor or safety officer needs to see. Each certificate includes the equipment’s unique ID, description, Safe Working Load (SWL), the date of thorough examination, the next examination due date, and a clear statement of any defects found. All certificates are uploaded to our secure online portal, giving you 24/7 access to your complete lifting equipment register.

Service Performed by Expert, LEEA-Certified Technicians

You cannot have safety without competence. All QCS inspectors are highly experienced engineers who hold advanced LEEA qualifications. They don’t just follow a checklist; they understand how equipment works, how it fails, and what it takes to keep it operating safely.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lifting Inspections

How often should I have my lifting equipment inspected?

This depends on regulations, equipment type, and usage. Under LOLER, the maximum interval for equipment lifting people is 6 months, for lifting accessories is 6 months, and for all other lifting equipment is 12 months. However, more frequent inspections may be needed for equipment used in harsh environments. This is separate from pre-use checks, which should be done by the operator before every use.

What happens if an item fails inspection?

If an inspector deems an item unsafe, it is immediately withdrawn from service. We will clearly tag it as “Do Not Use” and detail the defect on the report. The item must be quarantined to prevent accidental use. Depending on the defect, it can either be repaired by a competent person or must be destroyed and replaced.

What is a "Thorough Examination"?

This is the official legal term used in regulations like LOLER. It means a systematic and detailed examination of the equipment and all its safety-critical parts, carried out by a “competent person” at specified intervals. Our service provides precisely this Thorough Examination.

What is the difference between a proof load test and a periodic inspection?

A proof load test involves applying a force significantly higher than the Safe Working Load (typically 1.25x to 2x SWL) in a controlled environment. It is usually only required upon manufacture, after a major repair, or at the direction of a competent person. A periodic inspection (or Thorough Examination) is a detailed visual and functional check done at regular intervals without applying an excessive load.

Get a Free, No-Obligation Quote for Your Lifting Equipment

Ensure your equipment is safe, your company is compliant, and your workforce is protected. Contact our team of certified inspectors today for a comprehensive, no-obligation quote to manage your entire lifting equipment inventory.