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HSE Call for Evidence: Reviewing LOLER and PSSR Regulations

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By Dean Ferguson, CEO, BV Associates Ltd www.bvassociates.co.uk

As CEO of BV Associates, I’ve spent over two decades helping organisations across the UK achieve compliance, reduce risk, and build safer workplaces. Our team has supported countless clients with LOLER inspections, risk assessments, and training to ensure their operations meet the highest safety standards.

Now, a significant development is on the horizon. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a Call for Evidence as part of its review of two cornerstone safety regulations:

  • The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)

  • The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR)

This review, announced under the government’s Regulatory Action Programme (RAP), could have far-reaching implications for employers, duty holders, and safety professionals across the UK.

Why Is the HSE Reviewing LOLER and PSSR?

The government’s Regulatory Action Programme aims to modernise and simplify the UK’s regulatory framework while maintaining safety and compliance. It’s designed to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary administrative burden, promote innovation, and improve productivity — all without compromising health and safety.

For industries that rely on lifting equipment or pressurised systems, this is a key moment. The HSE wants to ensure that both sets of regulations continue to be effective, proportionate, and relevant in today’s rapidly changing industrial landscape.

The Call for Evidence invites businesses, training providers, and technical specialists to share their experiences and insights on how these regulations work in practice — and where they may need reform or clarification.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

If your organisation uses cranes, forklifts, hoists, passenger lifts, pressure vessels, or any lifting or pressurised system, this review could directly affect your operational and compliance responsibilities.

Businesses should be asking themselves:

  • Are current inspection intervals and testing requirements appropriate for our equipment and usage?

  • Are there areas where the regulations could be streamlined without increasing risk?

  • What challenges or confusion exist when applying the current LOLER and PSSR frameworks?

In essence, the review isn’t about relaxing safety standards — it’s about ensuring regulations remain fit for purpose and aligned with modern practices, technologies, and business needs.

The Importance of Maintaining Compliance

While the HSE gathers feedback and considers changes, the existing LOLER and PSSR duties remain fully in force. Businesses must continue to ensure all lifting equipment and pressure systems are:

  • Properly maintained, examined, and certified by competent persons

  • Subject to periodic thorough examinations

  • Operated by trained and authorised personnel

  • Supported by detailed records and inspection documentation

Failure to comply with these requirements can result in serious incidents, prosecution, and financial loss.

At BV Associates, we’ve seen first-hand how proactive inspection and training can prevent accidents, improve efficiency, and save companies from costly downtime. Our LOLER Inspection Service and LOLER Training Courses are designed to help clients not just meet the letter of the law — but to understand the principles behind it.

Our Experience: Supporting Safe and Compliant Lifting Operations

For over 20 years, BV Associates Ltd has worked alongside leading construction, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing organisations to improve safety standards.

Our LOLER Inspection Service ensures your lifting equipment is assessed by qualified professionals, helping identify potential hazards before they cause harm. We provide clear, actionable reports so that remedial actions are quick, cost-effective, and fully compliant.

Our LOLER Training gives employees and supervisors the confidence to understand their responsibilities under the regulations — from equipment selection and safe operation to inspection and maintenance.

When regulations evolve, so should training and awareness. As part of our consultancy service, we’re closely monitoring the HSE’s review and will be advising clients on any changes that emerge from this process.

Looking Ahead

The HSE’s review presents an important opportunity for industry professionals to have their say. Whether you’re a safety manager, engineer, or business owner, now is the time to share your experiences and help shape the next generation of safety standards.

At BV Associates, we’ll continue supporting our clients through this transition — providing trusted guidance, accredited training, and professional inspection services to keep workplaces safe, compliant, and productive.

To find out more about how we can help your organisation with LOLER training or LOLER inspections, visit www.bvassociates.co.uk or call us on 01494 864100.

If you’d like support with training, audits, or compliance, contact us at 01494 864100 or visit www.bvassociates.co.uk.

BV Associates Limited — Tried. Tested. Trusted.

Copyright BVA Ltd dtd 3 Oct 2025

Source acknowledgement:

This article draws on information and official guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including content published as part of the HSE’s Call for Evidence on the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR), available at www.hse.gov.uk. BV Associates Ltd recognises the HSE as the authoritative source for regulatory updates and compliance information in the UK.