| Factor | Typical impact |
|---|---|
| Equipment type | Lifting accessories and hoists sit at the lower end; forklifts, MEWPs and passenger lifts cost more due to complexity and time on site |
| Number of items | Volume reduces the per-item rate — a full fleet or site examined in one visit works out cheaper per item than single ad-hoc call-outs |
| Site access | Straightforward ground-floor access costs less than confined spaces, roof plant or restricted-access sites |
| Examination scheme | A written scheme adds engineering time up front, and can lengthen or shorten intervals depending on how the equipment is used |
| Scheduling | Same-week or emergency scheduling for a lapsed certificate typically carries a premium over a planned, advance-booked visit |
| Photographic evidence | Some providers charge extra for photos in the report, so ask at quote stage. Ours are included in every report as standard, with no add-on |
Why is there no single fixed price?
LOLER covers an enormous range of equipment — a single chain sling and a multi-storey passenger lift are both "lifting equipment," but examining them takes very different time, tooling and expertise. Any inspection company quoting one flat number for every enquiry is either quoting for the simplest possible job or padding the price to cover the complex ones. A scoped quote based on your actual equipment is the only way to get an accurate figure.
What drives the cost?
Equipment type and complexity is the biggest factor — a chain block or set of lifting accessories takes far less time to examine than a passenger lift with its drive system, safety devices and control gear. Volume matters too: examining ten forklifts on one site visit costs less per truck than a single ad-hoc call-out, which is why an annual contract covering a full equipment list is usually the most cost-effective route for a duty-holder with more than a handful of items. Site access, and whether the visit needs to happen out of hours or at short notice for a lapsed certificate, both add time and therefore cost.
How do you get an accurate quote?
The fastest way to a firm price is to have your equipment register ready — asset type, make and model where known, and roughly how many of each you need examined — along with the site address and any access constraints (out of hours only, confined space, height access). We use that to scope a like-for-like quote rather than a generic estimate, and reply within one business hour.
Is the cheapest quote the right one?
A Thorough Examination is only worth what the report behind it can stand up to — with an HSE inspector or local authority environmental health officer, an insurer, or in the event something goes wrong. An inspector under pressure to quote the lowest possible price has less time on site and less incentive to write a defensible, detailed report. Independent examination, done properly, costs what it costs to do properly; the real saving is in avoiding a lapsed certificate, a rejected insurance claim, or an enforcement notice further down the line.
Independent inspection, same-day report with photos
We reply within one business hour, and the inspection is carried out by an engineer with hands-on experience of that kind of plant.