When it comes to industrial lifting operations, safety and organisation go hand in hand. While investing in visual management solutions like PEAK VM’s lifting tackle shadow boards is a brilliant step toward keeping your workspace organised, it is equally important to ensure that the equipment hanging on those boards is legally compliant and safe to use.

This is where the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) come in.

What is a LOLER Inspection? Under LOLER regulations, any equipment used for lifting loads at work must be subjected to a “Thorough Examination” by a competent person at regular intervals. For lifting accessories such as shackles, slings, hooks, eye bolts, and tackles this inspection is a strict legal requirement and must be carried out at least every 6 months.

Because lifting accessories endure heavy loads, friction, and environmental wear, they are highly susceptible to hidden damage, stretching, or corrosion.

Why Are Inspections So Important?

• Safety First: The failure of a single shackle or sling can result in dropped loads, causing severe workplace injuries, fatalities, and massive damage to property. Regular inspections catch wear and tear before it results in a catastrophic failure.
• Legal Compliance: Failing to adhere to LOLER guidelines can lead to heavy fines, prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the invalidation of your company’s insurance policies.
• Equipment Longevity: Identifying minor issues early allows you to quarantine or replace individual accessories before they cause damage to larger, more expensive lifting machinery.

How Shadow Boards Make Inspections Easier Having a disorganised workshop makes LOLER inspections incredibly difficult and time-consuming. When inspectors have to hunt around a site for missing shackles or untangle chains left on the floor, it wastes valuable operational time.

By utilising structured visual management systems like shadow boards, you ensure that every single lifting accessory is accounted for, easily accessible, and kept off the floor away from corrosive materials. When the inspector arrives, they can immediately identify the assets, check their condition, log the certification, and get your team back to work with minimal downtime.

Upgrade Your Equipment Management and Compliance Great storage practices keep your equipment in top condition between inspections, but you still need an expert to sign off on their safety. By combining bespoke visual management solutions from PEAK VM with trusted statutory inspections from organisations such as LDN Inspection Services, you can guarantee your site is both highly organised and fully compliant.

If you need to improve your equipment storage and traceability, explore PEAK VM’s range of custom shadow boards. And if your lifting tackle is due for its next thorough examination, visit LDN Inspection Services to ensure your equipment is certified, safe, and ready for the heavy lifting.