New or reinstalled lifting equipment pre-use examination checklist
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 7 October 2026
- Reviewed
- 7 October 2026
- Who this checklist is for
- Primary and secondary schools in England, including maintained schools and academies, excluding independent schools.
- Jurisdiction
- england
11 checklist steps
Blank response areas · preview only
Confirm applicability
Use this checklist where lifting equipment is newly acquired, hired, assembled, installed or relocated and its safe operation depends on examination or installation conditions.
Record equipment details
Response required
Record enough information to identify the lifting equipment and its current location.
Equipment description, asset or serial number, and location
Identify the relevant change
Select all circumstances that apply to this equipment.
Choose all that apply
- Newly acquired
- Hired
- Assembled on site
- Installed before use
- Relocated or moved to another location
- None of these circumstances apply
Consider installation conditions
Where the equipment was assembled on site or depends for safety on how it was installed, confirm that an examination by a competent person is arranged before use to confirm that the assembly or installation is correct and safe.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Check examination before first use
Where the equipment is to be used for the first time, check whether it has been examined before use by a competent person, unless the stated Declaration of Conformity exception applies.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record any Declaration of Conformity relied upon
If the first-use examination is not being carried out because the exception is being considered, record the Declaration of Conformity date and confirm that it is less than one year old and that the equipment was not assembled on site and does not depend for safety on the conditions of installation.
Declaration of Conformity date and basis for applying the exception
Check examination after assembly or installation
For equipment that requires assembly or installation before use, check that it has been examined by a competent person after assembly or installation and before use at each location where it is used.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record examination evidence
Response required
Record the examination report, certificate or other available reference, together with the examining person or organisation and the examination date.
Report or certificate reference; competent person or organisation; examination date
Record defects or restrictions
Record any defect, restriction, limitation or other condition identified during the examination or installation review that could affect safe use.
Describe the defect or restriction, or enter none identified
Decide whether use can proceed
Where examination evidence is absent, installation has not been confirmed as correct and safe, or a defect or restriction could make use unsafe, do not permit use until the issue has been addressed by the responsible competent person or other appropriate responsible person.
Choose one
- Examination and installation conditions support use
- Use is subject to recorded restrictions
- Do not use until an issue is addressed
- Decision pending further examination or information
Record actions and follow-up
Record any action required, the person responsible, and the point at which the equipment may be reviewed again for use.
Action, responsible person, and follow-up details