Services / Safety Inspections
LOLER, PUWER & Thorough Examinations Ireland — done right, on time
Keep your forklift fleet legal, safe and audit-ready. Independent statutory inspections by certified examiners, with reminders before every due date so nothing slips.
Legal duty for Irish employers
Every forklift on your site needs a LOLER Thorough Examination at least yearly
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, employers must ensure lifting equipment is thoroughly examined by a competent person at intervals of no more than 12 months (or 6 months where the equipment is used to lift people). Failing an audit — or worse, an incident — with an out-of-date certificate exposes the business to HSA prosecution, insurance invalidation and reputational damage. AWE's independent examiners have been carrying out LOLER, PUWER and Thorough Examinations across Ireland for decades. We inspect every make on Irish sites, issue certificates the same day, and manage your inspection calendar so nothing ever slips.
What we cover
Every statutory check in one visit
One examiner, one report pack, one invoice — scheduled to minimise downtime on your shift pattern.
Thorough Examination (TE)
Independent statutory examination of every forklift — the LOLER equivalent of an MOT for lifting equipment.
LOLER inspections
Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations compliance — every 12 months, or 6 months for equipment lifting people.
PUWER assessments
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations — confirms equipment is suitable, safe and properly maintained for its task.
Defect reports
Clear, photographed findings categorised by severity, with priced remedial quotes within one working day.
Scheduled reminders
Automated 30-day reminders before every truck's next due date — never miss an inspection again.
Audit-ready records
Digital and paper certificates plus a full HSA-ready record pack — kept on file, forwarded on demand.
Plain English
LOLER vs PUWER vs Thorough Examination
Three overlapping terms that trip up a lot of Irish site managers — here's what each actually means.
| LOLER | PUWER | Thorough Examination | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Regulation set | Regulation set | Physical inspection |
| Covers | Lifting equipment & operations | All work equipment | Statutory LOLER check |
| Legally required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency | N/A (framework) | N/A (framework) | 6 or 12 months |
| Independent examiner needed | Optional | No | Yes |
| Applies to forklifts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Applies to lifting accessories | Yes | No | Yes |
The short version: LOLER and PUWER are the regulations that set the legal duty. A Thorough Examination is the physical inspection you commission to demonstrate LOLER compliance. All three matter for a forklift fleet in Ireland.
How it works
Book, examine, certify — no downtime you didn't plan for.
Book & schedule
Send us the fleet — makes, models, serials, last exam dates. We schedule the visit around your shift pattern.
On-site examination
Independent certified examiner works through every truck: chassis, forks, mast, chains, hydraulics, brakes, safety systems, operator controls.
Report & certificate
Digital defect report and Report of Thorough Examination issued the same day. Priced quote for any remedial work within 24 hours.
Records & reminders
Certificates filed to your account, reminders set 30 days before next due date. Fleet-wide reporting on request.
Why AWE
The service partner Irish operators trust.
Ireland-wide coverage
Engineers and mobile service vans dispatched from Dublin across all 32 counties.
Factory-trained technicians
Manufacturer-certified on Xilin and MasterMover — no guesswork, no overseas call centres.
4-hour response SLA
Contract customers get an engineer on the road within four hours of a breakdown call.
40+ years, genuine parts
Four decades on Irish sites and OEM-only parts — protects warranty, safety and resale value.
Proof
"We failed an insurer audit on a missing LOLER certificate. AWE turned up next day, examined 22 trucks, and had every certificate in our compliance folder by end of week."
FAQ
LOLER & Thorough Examinations — common questions
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Due an inspection?
Book a Thorough Examination today — nationwide cover, fixed fleet pricing.