School Lifting Equipment Thorough Examination Schedule for Load-Lifting Equipment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Who this checklist is for
- Primary and secondary schools in England, including maintained schools and academies, where lifting equipment or lifting accessories are used at work.
- Jurisdiction
- england
16 checklist steps
Blank response areas · preview only
Confirm applicability
Identify whether the school uses lifting equipment to lift loads or uses lifting accessories at work, such as lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, fork-lift trucks, chains, slings or eyebolts. If not, record that this checklist is not applicable and stop.
Choose one
- Applicable
- Not applicable
Identify equipment
Response required
List each item or group of identical items requiring consideration, including its location, asset or identification reference, and whether it is lifting equipment or a lifting accessory.
Equipment description, location, asset or identification reference, and category
Check for a written examination scheme
Check whether a competent person has issued a written examination scheme for the equipment. Record the scheme reference and the examination interval or sampling arrangement specified in that scheme. Where a scheme exists, use it instead of the default intervals in this checklist.
Choose one
- A written examination scheme exists
- No written examination scheme identified
- Not yet confirmed
Record written scheme details
Response required
If a written examination scheme exists, record the competent person's details, scheme reference, applicable interval or sampling arrangement, and any conditions or limitations. If no scheme exists, record that no scheme was identified.
Competent person, scheme reference, interval or sampling arrangement, conditions or 'No scheme identified'
Classify the equipment
Select all categories that apply to the equipment record.
Choose all that apply
- Equipment used to lift loads
- Equipment used to lift people
- Lifting accessory
Determine the examination interval
Response required
Where no written examination scheme specifies a different interval, record the applicable default interval: 12 months for lifting equipment used to lift loads; 6 months for equipment used to lift people; and 6 months for lifting accessories. If more than one category applies, record the shortest applicable interval.
Applicable interval and basis, or written scheme reference
Arrange the examination
Arrange the thorough examination with a competent person in accordance with the written examination scheme, where one exists, or the applicable default interval where none exists.
Record the examination date
Response required
Record the date of the most recent thorough examination for each equipment record.
Date of most recent thorough examination
Record the next due date
Response required
Record the next examination due date stated or calculated under the applicable written examination scheme or default interval. If the competent person has not specified or confirmed a date, record that it is pending confirmation.
Next due date or 'Pending confirmation'
Retain the competent-person report
Response required
Retain the written thorough-examination report and record its reference, storage location and the equipment covered.
Report reference, storage location and equipment covered
Review report defects
Response required
Review the competent-person report for defects or other findings requiring action. Record each defect, the equipment affected, the action assigned, the responsible person and the action status.
Defect or 'None recorded'; action, responsible person and status
Act on defects
Take action on defects identified in the report and retain evidence of the action taken. Do not treat the examination record as complete while required defect actions remain unassigned or unrecorded.
Check for additional examination triggers
Check whether, since the last examination or before the next planned use, any of the following has occurred: an accident; a dangerous occurrence; a significant change in conditions of use; replacement of parts subject to thorough examination; or a long period of inaction.
Choose all that apply
- None identified
- Accident
- Dangerous occurrence
- Significant change in conditions of use
- Replacement of parts subject to thorough examination
- Long period of inaction
Record trigger details
Response required
If an additional examination trigger is identified, record the event, date, equipment affected, relevant evidence and the date or condition required for the additional examination. Arrange the additional thorough examination before further use where required.
Event, date, equipment, evidence and additional examination arrangement; or 'No trigger identified'
Check replacement parts before use
Where new parts covered by the examination requirements have been fitted, arrange a thorough examination before the equipment is used.
Maintain the schedule
Keep the equipment record, applicable examination scheme or interval, written reports, next-due date, defect actions and additional examination records together and review them when equipment use, condition or examination requirements change.