Lifting with Excavators and Telehandlers – Are You Meeting Your Legal Duties?

Lifting with Excavators and Telehandlers — Are You Meeting Your Legal Duties?

Across construction sites, excavators and telehandlers are increasingly used for lifting and placing materials — from rebar cages and manholes to site cabins and tanks. While this flexibility supports productivity, many employers don’t realise these activities are classed as lifting operations under LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998).

This means additional competency, planning, and supervision duties apply — and using these machines without the correct training or endorsements could leave your business exposed to enforcement action or serious incidents.

Lifting with Excavators

Ask yourself:

• Do your excavator operators ever lift or move suspended loads using chains, slings, shackles, or lifting eyes/hooks?
• Are excavators ever used to place materials, manholes, pipes, rebar cages, or other components into position?
• Do any tasks involve lifting items off delivery vehicles or assisting with site setups (e.g. cabins, barriers, tanks)?

If yes: your operators are carrying out lifting operations and must hold the relevant Lifting Operations endorsement.

Training and Competency Route:

• NPORS Test Category: N100 – Excavator as a Crane
• CPCS Equivalent: A59 – Excavator 360° (Tracked or Wheeled) – Endorsement E
• NVQ Unit: R/508/6482 – Preparing and Operating Excavator Cranes to Lift and Transfer Loads in the Workplace

Lifting with Telehandlers (Suspended Loads)

Similarly, telehandlers are often used for much more than standard fork work.

Ask:

• Do your telehandler operators ever lift loads that are not on forks – for example, slung loads, chains, or lifting attachments (buckets, hooks, or jibs)?
• Are any materials suspended below the boom, rather than resting on the forks or carriage?
• Do operators ever move lifting accessories such as chains, slings, or shackles?

If yes: they are performing suspended load operations and should be qualified in the appropriate lifting category.

Training and Competency Route:

• NPORS Test Category: N138 – Suspended Loads (Telehandler)
• CPCS Equivalent: A17 – Telescopic Handler – Endorsement E

Wider Duties: Lifting Team Roles

Under LOLER, lifting operations must be planned, supervised, and carried out safely. If your business uses excavators or telehandlers for lifting, you should also consider the wider team and their competence:

Even if lifts are carried out with a telehandler or excavator — the same principles apply as with a crane. Each role is critical to ensure stability, communication, and safety.

Why It Matters

Failing to recognise these as lifting operations can lead to:

• Breach of LOLER regulations
• Invalidated insurance claims following incidents
• Enforcement action or improvement notices from the HSE
• Increased risk of accidents due to unplanned or uncoordinated lifting

With incidents involving lifting equipment often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, compliance isn’t just a paperwork exercise — it’s about protecting lives.

How We Can Help

Workforce Skills Support offers:

• NPORS and CPCS testing for Lifting with Excavators and Telehandlers
• NVQs aligned to lifting operations and plant categories
• Appointed Person, Lift Supervisor, and Slinger/Signaller NVQ’s and NPORS tests

Our experts can help you identify where lifting operations are taking place — even if unintentionally — and put the right training, procedures, and records in place to stay compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thought

If your excavators or telehandlers are doing more than moving soil or pallets, it’s time to review your lifting operations.

Being proactive now ensures your workforce remains safe, competent, and compliant — and your business protected under LOLER.