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Coach firm pays £90,000 for LOLER infringement

Open-access content Wednesday 29th June 2016
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

Mold Crown Court heard that, between 4 April 2014 and 28 August 2015, GHA Coaches did not arrange for its lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined within the required timescales. Thorough examinations ensure equipment is safe to operate and allow deterioration to be detected and remedied in good time.

In 2015 a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection revealed GHA Coaches had overdue Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) examinations on at least 14 items. Though an improvement notice that was served was extended twice, the company still failed to comply.

The HSE had issued a previous improvement notice in 2011.

GHA Coaches pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(3)(a)(ii) of LOLER, which requires employers to examine lifting equipment thoroughly every six months, and for failing to comply with an improvement notice. It was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,068.

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