The Compliance Gap You Might Not Know About
A product can meet the performance requirements of a standard without actually meeting the legislative requirements for health and safety. In other words, it can function as expected, and still not be fully compliant.
For lifting equipment, compliance isn’t just about where something works. It’s about whether it meets relevant EN standards and legislation, including LOLER (Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations). Equipment that falls short of these requirements carries the risk that isn’t always visible at the point of purchase, but that can have serious consequences.
What to Look for When Sourcing Lifting Equipment
When hiring lifting equipment, these are the right questions to ask:
- Does the equipment fully meet the relevant EN standards? Not just performance criteria but legislative requirements?
- Is it compliant with LOLER and PUWER?
- What documentation and certification come with it?
- Is there full traceability if an issue arises?
- Has it been inspected and certified by a LEEA qualified engineer?
The true cost of cheaper, non-compliant equipment rarely shows up on the initial quote. It shows up later: in safety incidents, legal liability, and the very real risks on site.
How GAP Ensures Quality at Every Stage
At GAP Hire Solutions, we only work with quality, industry-leading suppliers. Every product in our lifting fleet is chosen on the basis of compliance and quality. That means our customers can hire with confidence, knowing their equipment meets the required legislative standards.
Our Test, Inspect & Certify (TIC) service provides even more security and confidence. Every item in our fleet is inspected by our LEEA qualified engineers who are deemed competent under LOLER regulations. Inspections are carried out using our Spartan digital platform, with each piece of equipment assessed against quality control criteria specific to that item. Our customers have full traceability and can access inspection reports at any time via our TIC Online Service.
Our team also carry out TIC inspections on customer-owned assets, on site, or at any of our Lifting depots nationwide.
Cheap rates do not equal compliant, safe equipment. This is something GLAD 2026 makes clear, and something we see the consequences of throughout the industry.
Supporting Safer Lifts
Lifting safely doesn’t start with the lift. It starts with the planning and decision to source the right equipment from the right supplier.
We’re proud to support GLAD 2026 and the important work LEEA does to raise standards across the sector. If you’d like to find out more about our Lifting range, TIC services, or how we can support compliance on your site, explore our fleet, or speak to your local GAP Lifting depot.