For arboricultural examiners
LOLER examinations for tree climbing and rigging kit.
Built by arborists who examine kit every week. Harnesses, friction savers, rigging pulleys and blocks, with the common models already in the catalogue.
Why arborists use LOLA
Climbing and rigging in one register
Each climber's kit and the crew's rigging kit, grouped by kit reference, with the right six-month interval.
Models you already know
Common harnesses, friction devices, pulleys and connectors with MBS, SWL and lifetimes. Pick the model and the details fill in.
Recalls that reach the crew
When a manufacturer issues a notice, LOLA shows which clients and which climbers hold affected kit.
Kit in the catalogue
- Harnesses
- Friction devices
- Connectors
- Climbing and rigging ropes
- Pulleys and blocks
- Lanyards
- Slings
- Helmets
Arborist questions
Does rigging equipment need a LOLER examination?
Yes. Rigging kit used to lower sections of tree is lifting equipment and accessories, and needs a thorough examination at least every six months for accessories, or as set by an examination scheme.
Can I record spurs and helmets too?
Yes. Add any item to a kit, including items outside LOLER, so the climber's whole kit bag is recorded together.
Does it work in the woods with no signal?
Yes. Record the whole examination offline and it syncs when you are back in signal.
For duty holders
Getting your kit ready for examination
Well-presented kit makes the examination quicker, keeps your records in good shape and avoids needless quarantines.
Before the examiner arrives
- Clean and dry. Sap, mud and oil removed, washed to the maker's instructions.
- Every item present. Grouped by kit bag or person, spares included.
- Serials legible. Labels and markings intact on every item.
- Records to hand. Last report, purchase dates and any incidents, uploaded to LOLA.
- Damaged kit flagged. Anything you have doubts about set aside and labelled.
- Instructions available. The manufacturer's instructions for unusual kit.
How should kit be presented for examination?
Clean, dry and laid out by kit bag or by person, with every item there, including spares and anything you think may fail. Have the manufacturer's instructions to hand for anything unusual. An examiner working through a tidy, complete kit finishes sooner and misses nothing.
Will dirty kit cost more?
It can. Sap, resin, mud and chainsaw oil hide cuts, glazing and chemical damage. If kit has to be cleaned before it can be examined, the examiner may charge for the time. Anything that still cannot be properly inspected may be quarantined until it is cleaned and re-presented. Wash kit as the manufacturer instructs and let it dry naturally, away from direct heat.
Why do serial numbers matter so much?
Every item on a LOLER report must be identifiable, and the serial is how its history, date of manufacture and lifetime are traced. If a label is worn away, painted over or cut off, the item may not be traceable and is often retired. Never remove or deface labels. Tell the examiner if one is fading, and LOLA can issue a QR label or unique ID where the manufacturer allows it.
What records should I give the examiner?
Previous reports, purchase or into-service dates for new kit, and anything that has happened since the last examination, such as a fall arrest, a shock load, a repair or contact with chemicals. Send them through your examiner's private LOLA upload link. They are filed against each item, so the history stays complete from one examination to the next.
How can we reduce quarantines and failures?
Do pre-use checks every time, and take damaged kit out of use yourself straight away. Store kit dry, out of sunlight and away from fuel, oil and batteries. Bag ropes, keep to the manufacturer's maximum lifetimes, and report any shock load. Most failures at examination are kit that should already have been withdrawn.
What happens to kit that fails?
It is marked quarantine or retire on the report. Quarantined items must not be used until the fault is put right and they are re-examined. Retired items should be destroyed or clearly marked so they cannot be used again. LOLA records the outcome on the item's history.