LOLER category A vs B defects: worked examples for lifting equipment examiners
The competent person under LOLER 1998 must classify defects as category A (immediate risk) or category B. Here are worked examples across cranes, MEWPs, hoists, chain slings, and lifting accessories.
By Hovermarks team
Quick answer. LOLER 1998 does not itself use "category A" and "category B" wording. The categorisation is industry practice, codified by LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) and used by nearly every UK competent person on the Report of Thorough Examination. Category A means an immediate risk to persons and the equipment must be taken out of service before further use. Category B means a defect that must be repaired within a defined time frame but does not stop immediate use. Getting the categorisation wrong is one of the most common enforcement findings when the HSE reviews thorough examination records after an incident.
Every UK competent person completing a Report of Thorough Examination under LOLER 1998 Schedule 1 has to decide: is this defect immediate-risk or scheduled-repair? The category on the RTE governs what the duty holder can and cannot do with the equipment for the next six or twelve months.
This post is worked examples of category A vs B defects across the equipment types that come up most often. All examples are drawn from published LEEA guidance, HSE incident reports and generally accepted competent-person practice as of 2026.
What the two categories actually mean
- Category A. An immediate risk of failure that could cause injury. The equipment is taken out of service before further use. The duty holder is required to act on notification within 24 hours.
- Category B. A defect that requires attention within a specified time frame. The equipment can continue in service under any conditions the examiner sets. Common time frames: 7 days, 28 days, or "before the next examination".
The RTE must state the category on the record and the action required. If the examiner is unsure, the safer classification is A.
Cranes (overhead, tower, mobile)
Category A examples:
- Cracked structural weld in the main girder of an overhead crane, visible on non-destructive testing.
- Slippage in the hoist brake so the load descends unexpectedly when the brake is applied.
- Wire rope with three or more broken wires in one strand within a rope diameter length.
- Failed limit switch on the hoist upper travel, no redundancy.
- Corrosion on the load-bearing structural members exceeding 10 percent of section thickness.
Category B examples:
- Wear on the sheave grooves within acceptable limits but approaching replacement threshold.
- Minor paint damage on non-structural cladding.
- Non-critical alarm circuit intermittent (visual alarm works, audible alarm sometimes fails).
- Grease nipple missing but bearing still receiving grease through adjacent nipple.
- Data plate legible but damaged.
MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms)
Category A examples:
- Loss of hydraulic fluid from a boom cylinder while under load.
- Non-functioning tilt sensor on the platform (no cut-out when tilted beyond safe angle).
- Failed emergency lowering system on the primary control circuit.
- Cracked weld on the boom pivot point.
- Guardrails loose or non-continuous around the platform.
Category B examples:
- Slight play in a boom telescope beyond specification but still within double the tolerance.
- Damaged decal (legibility affected but not lost).
- Ground-control emergency-stop button stiff but functional.
- Tyre wear approaching but not exceeding replacement threshold.
Hoists (chain hoists, wire rope hoists, lever hoists)
Category A examples:
- Elongated or twisted load chain in a chain hoist.
- Cracked hook throat.
- Failed hook safety latch (broken, missing, or jammed open).
- Slipping load brake in a lever hoist.
- Damaged suspension eye.
Category B examples:
- Worn but functional hook safety latch spring.
- Nameplate faded but still legible.
- Grease weep from gear case without loss of function.
- Chain slightly stiff after long storage, moves freely once operated.
Chain slings and wire rope slings
Category A examples:
- Chain link with wear exceeding 10 percent of original diameter.
- Bent chain link (any bend beyond as-manufactured shape).
- Nicks or gouges on the chain surface deeper than 10 percent of chain diameter.
- Missing or illegible identification tag.
- For wire rope slings: 5 or more broken wires in one strand within a rope diameter length; corrosion pitting throughout the sling; deformation such as flattening or crushing.
Category B examples:
- Slight surface rust without pitting or section loss on chain.
- Identification tag legible but damaged (secondary damage; primary tag still readable).
- Some end-of-rope splaying at the fitting, still within acceptance.
Lifting accessories (shackles, eyebolts, plate clamps)
Category A examples:
- Shackle pin bent or seized in the body.
- Shackle body worn beyond 10 percent of original diameter at any point.
- Eyebolt with visible cracks at the shoulder.
- Plate clamp with worn cam teeth (no bite on the plate).
- Missing rating stamp or WLL marking.
Category B examples:
- Shackle pin threads showing wear but engaging fully.
- Corrosion on the shackle body, superficial, without section loss.
- Plate clamp cam teeth showing initial wear.
Passenger lifts and lifts used to lift persons
Passenger lifts have their own regulations (Lifts Regulations 2016, EN 81 series) alongside LOLER. Category A applies to any defect that could cause a person to fall from height or be crushed by moving parts. Category B applies to defects that reduce reliability but do not create immediate risk.
Common category A findings on the LOLER thorough examination:
- Defective landing door interlock (door opens with car not at floor level).
- Slippage in the safety gear when tested.
- Excessive wear in guide shoes such that the car sways in shaft.
- Frayed traction rope with visible wire breaks.
What examiners get wrong
Three patterns from HSE incident reviews:
- Miscategorising rope wear. A rope with 5 broken wires in one strand in a rope diameter length is category A on running ropes but the examiner records it as category B and specifies replacement "at next opportunity". Six weeks later the rope parts.
- Missing the accessory. The crane structure gets a thorough exam. The load hook and safety latch get a cursory look. The safety latch has been broken for months, gets missed, and a load falls off when the hook catches on obstruction.
- Category B with no time frame. The examiner writes "attend to at next examination" for a defect that should be fixed within 28 days. The duty holder reads "next examination" as "next twelve-monthly", and the equipment operates six months longer with a known defect.
What the duty holder must do on receiving a category A notification
- Take the equipment out of service immediately.
- Notify the enforcing authority (HSE for most sites, local authority for offices/retail) if there is or has been an existing significant risk.
- Arrange repair or removal by a competent person.
- Do not return the equipment to service until re-examined and passed.