What are the LOLER intervals?

Per LOLER 1998 reg. 9: every 6 months for accessories and equipment used to lift people; every 12 months for other lifting equipment. Examination intervals may be shorter if specified by a competent person's written scheme.

Does my country apply LOLER?

LOLER is a UK statutory instrument, but its 6/12-month rule is adopted by reference in many Gulf, African and Asian jurisdictions, and by IOGP-aligned operators. Check local regulation; the tool's defaults match the LOLER values.

What if the last exam was on the 31st of the month?

The scheduler uses date-safe month addition: 31 Jan + 1 month gives 28 Feb (or 29 Feb in a leap year), not 3 Mar. This matches the practical reading of LOLER's 'six monthly intervals not exceeding'.

What does ISO 4309 say about discard?

ISO 4309:2017 lists broken-wire limits per rope construction and service category (M1–M8). For a 6×19 rope in M3 service, the limit is typically 6 broken wires in 6d (six rope diameters) or 12 in 30d. Other defects (corrosion, kinking, reduction of diameter ≥ 7–10%) also trigger discard.

How do I count a broken wire?

Run a cloth along the rope — broken wires snag. Each broken end is one count; a broken wire with both ends visible counts twice. Inspect the entire rope, but the worst 30d window governs the discard decision.

ISO 4309 service categories rate the rope's duty: M1 = light/intermittent (small hoists), M3 = medium (typical mobile crane), M8 = severe (continuous heavy-duty grab). Heavier service = stricter discard limits.

What chain elongation triggers discard?

Per EN 818-4:1996+A1:2008 and LEEA COPSURE 2, alloy chain is discarded when it has stretched 5% over its rated length (measured over 11 links). Local stretch in any one link, or a single link 5% over its original pitch, is also cause for discard.

Can a damaged link be replaced or do I scrap the whole sling?

Per LEEA, only the manufacturer or an authorised repairer can replace a chain-sling link, using approved welds and proof-test to original WLL. Field repair is prohibited. In practice most operators scrap the whole sling.

Does surface corrosion always mean discard?

Light rust is acceptable. Deep pitting that reduces the chain wire diameter by 10% or more is discard. Heat exposure above 200 °C (visible to the eye as discolouration) also requires discard or specialist re-rating.

How is hook throat opening measured?

Use callipers or a calibrated hook gauge between the inside of the hook point and the shank, at the manufacturer's stamped reference point. Compare to the original throat dimension on the cert.

What's the discard threshold?

Per ASME B30.10-2019: standard hooks discard at 5% throat opening increase; self-locking hooks at 10%. Twist deformation > 10° from the plane of the hook is also discard, as is any cracking in the saddle (NDT-confirmed).

Why are self-locking hooks allowed more throat opening?

Self-locking hooks have a positive latch that prevents the sling slipping out even at higher throat openings. The looser 10% threshold reflects this redundancy — but cracks and twist still apply normally.

LEEA Inspection Tools – LOLER, Wire Rope

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29LOLER Thorough Examination Scheduler

Compute the next required Thorough Examination date per LOLER 1998 Regulation 9 + LEEA COP-LOLER. Lifting accessories and equipment used to lift people require 6-monthly exams; other lifting equipment is 12-monthly. Equipment exposed to exceptional circumstances must be re-examined out of cycle.

Equipment type

Last thorough examination date

In-service since (optional, for new equipment)

Exceptional circumstance during the period

Examination scheme A written scheme of examination prepared by a competent person can extend or shorten the default intervals.

Next examination

—

Statutory interval—

Days until next exam—

Reference—

—

What a thorough examination must cover (LEEA)

Visual inspection of every component
Functional test of brakes, limits and overload protection
Measurement / NDT where wear or fatigue is suspected
Comparison against manufacturer's discard criteria
Issue of a Report of Thorough Examination (RTE / Form F2530)

30Wire Rope Discard Criteria (ISO 4309:2017 / LEEA)

Screen a wire rope sample against the discard criteria in ISO 4309:2017 and LEEA COPSURE 4. Captures the four LEEA inspection categories: broken wires, wear, deformation and corrosion. Returns discard / monitor / pass with the binding criterion.

Rope construction

Rope nominal diameter (mm)

Service category (M-class)

Observations

Broken wires within 6× rope diameter (count) i

Broken wires within 30× rope diameter

Diameter loss vs nominal (%)

Corrosion grade

Deformation

Heat / arc damage

Disposition

—

Broken-wire limit (6d / 30d)—

Broken-wire status—

Diameter loss—

Corrosion—

Deformation—

ReferenceISO 4309:2017 · LEEA COPSURE 4

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31Chain Sling Discard Criteria (EN 818 / LEEA)

Discard screen for grade T (8) and grade V (10) chain slings per EN 818-2:1996+A1:2008 / EN 818-4:1996+A1:2008 and LEEA COPSURE 2. Pitch elongation > 5% or wear > 10% of nominal cross-section is mandatory discard. Hook throat opening is checked separately in tool #32.

Chain grade

Grade 8 (T) Grade 10 (V)

Nominal chain diameter d (mm)

Measured chain link mean diameter (mm) Measure at the link bearing surface using two perpendicular readings averaged.

Nominal pitch p (mm) i

Measured pitch over 11 links / 11 (mm) EN 818 method: measure 11 links inside-to-inside, divide by 11.

Visible defects Hold Ctrl / Cmd to select multiple.

Disposition

—

Wear (cross-section)—

Wear limit≤ 10%

Pitch elongation—

Pitch limit≤ 5%

Visible defects—

ReferenceEN 818-2:1996+A1:2008/4 · LEEA COPSURE 2

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32Hook Throat-Opening Inspection

Measure throat-opening increase against the original (manufacturer's) value. Per LEEA COPSURE 5 + ASME B30.10-2019: discard at 5% increase for hand-forged hooks (general lifting), 10% for self-locking hooks where allowed by manufacturer. Twist > 10° and saddle wear > 10% are also discard.

Hook type

Original throat opening A (mm) i

Measured throat opening A' (mm)

Saddle / load-bearing wear (% of original section)

Twist of hook tip (° from plane)

Latch / safety device

Disposition

—

Throat increase—

Throat limit—

Saddle wear—

Twist—

Latch—

ReferenceLEEA COPSURE 5 · ASME B30.10-2019

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For training purposes only. Statutory thorough examinations and discard decisions must be made by a competent person per LOLER 1998 / LEEA COP-LOLER. Always cross-check against the manufacturer's published discard criteria.

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LEEA Inspection Tools

29LOLER Thorough Examination Scheduler

Next examination

What a thorough examination must cover (LEEA)

30Wire Rope Discard Criteria (ISO 4309:2017 / LEEA)

Observations

Disposition

31Chain Sling Discard Criteria (EN 818 / LEEA)

Disposition

32Hook Throat-Opening Inspection

Disposition

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