What construction site managers and H&S professionals must know now
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has formally launched a call for evidence on the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), indicating a possible shift in enforcement and compliance expectations around lifting and pressure equipment on UK construction sites.
With lifting equipment and pressure systems routinely present on building projects, this development should prompt construction companies, site managers, health & safety advisers and NVQ learners to ensure their competence and compliance frameworks are up to date.
Why this matters now
LOLER requires that lifting equipment is strong, stable, marked with safe working loads, properly installed, maintained, examined at suitable intervals and that any work involved in lifting operations is planned, supervised and carried out by competent persons (Regulation 5 and 6). PSSR similarly requires pressure systems to be designed, maintained, operated safely and to have appropriate written schemes where required. The HSE’s review of these regulations signals that the regulator may place more emphasis on compliance gaps in these areas.
For the construction sector, this means that equipment such as cranes, hoists, lifting frames, scaffold hoists, pressure‑vessels, air receivers, hydraulics and other systems may come under renewed scrutiny. If site teams cannot evidence that planning, maintenance, examination and competent supervision have been properly carried out, enforcement risk rises.
Key risks and practical actions
From a risk perspective, failures in lifting or pressure‑systems can lead to catastrophic consequences: equipment collapse, dropped loads, explosion or sudden failure of containment. On construction sites these risks are compounded by dynamic environments, changing loads, multiple parties working concurrently and temporary installations.
Practical steps that companies should consider now include:
• Review your fleet of lifting and pressure equipment: ensure every item has a current safe‑working‑load or pressure rating, is inspected, maintained and has an examination record where required.
• Check planning and supervision: lifting operations must be planned (LOLER reg 8) and supervised by a competent person. Ensure you can demonstrate this – for example via method statements, lifting plans and evidence that those supervising hold accepted competence.
• Competence records: ensure workers and supervisors involved in lifting operations or pressure system use have up‑to‑date training and competence. This may mean refresher NVQ or technical assessments.
• Audit compliance: carry out internal audits of lifting/pressure‑system management – examine equipment records, examination certificates, maintenance logs, staff competence, supervision arrangements and risk assessments.
• Update documentation: revise safe systems of work, method statements and risk assessments to reflect the more intensive compliance expectations signalled by the HSE.
Why competence and compliance must align
In practical terms, this regulatory review emphasises that competence (training, qualification, supervised experience) and compliance (documented procedures, examinations, maintenance) must work together. For example, simply having trained staff is insufficient if the equipment lacks an up‑to‑date examination certificate or the lifting plan is inadequate. Equally, having all the paperwork but untrained supervisors is equally vulnerable. Construction companies and site managers should therefore strengthen both sides of the equation.
How All Star Safety Ltd can help
At All Star Safety Limited we offer consultancy, NVQ assessments, training and audit services geared to this equipment‑risk arena. Whether you need to verify lifting equipment competence, audit current systems, update your safe‑systems of work or deliver training to ensure staff supervising lifting operations or pressure systems are competent, we can assist. Visit our NVQs page to find out how we can support your workforce and compliance regime.