For rope access examiners
Thorough examinations and interim inspections for rope access kit.
Same six-month cycle, plus the interim inspections in between. LOLA covers both, with a printable checklist for every kit and a code for submitting checks.
Built for rope access regimes
Interim checks, not just six-monthly
Print an interim checklist per kit from its last examination, and let technicians submit checks back to LOLA with a code.
Teams and technicians
Group kit by technician or team, and see every item's history when kit moves between people.
Defects handled properly
Items that are or could become a danger are listed separately, marked not to be used, with the Regulation 10 wording.
Kit in the catalogue
- Harnesses
- Descenders and ascenders
- Connectors
- Working and safety lines
- Lanyards and cow's tails
- Pulleys
- Slings and anchors
- Helmets
Rope access questions
Does LOLA replace pre-use checks?
No. Pre-use checks stay with the technician. LOLA records the thorough examination and supports the interim inspections around it.
Can I add kit that isn't in the catalogue?
Yes. Add any item with its own load ratings, material and maximum lifetime.
Can clients see their own kit?
Yes. Send a private read-only link. There is no account and no password.
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.