In many UK businesses, attention naturally falls on major plant and machinery. Lifts, boilers, and production equipment get scheduled inspections, maintenance contracts, and regular checks. But what about the equipment that’s often taken for granted — escalators, ladders, access platforms, fire alarms, or emergency lighting?
Neglecting these items may not only put people at risk, but it can also have a serious impact on insurance cover. Insurers increasingly expect businesses to take a holistic approach to engineering inspections, covering not just headline plant, but all items that could cause injury, damage, or operational interruption.
Escalators are considered lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). They require regular thorough examination by a competent engineer.
Failures, such as step chain malfunction, brake faults, or motor overheating, can result in serious injuries or fatalities. From an insurance perspective, incidents involving escalators often lead to public liability claims and can escalate to major property damage claims if mechanical failure affects surrounding structures.
Even if your escalators are not heavily used, insurers will expect evidence of scheduled inspections and maintenance logs to validate cover in the event of a claim.
Ladders, mobile towers, scaffolds, and other access equipment might not always require formal statutory inspection. However, under PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998), equipment must still be:
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace injury in the UK. For insurers, even a small accident involving overlooked equipment can trigger a liability claim. Having documented checks and clear inspection schedules is essential to demonstrate responsible risk management.
Fire protection equipment is another commonly overlooked area. Fire alarms, emergency lighting, smoke control systems, automatic opening vents (AOVs), and extinguishers all play a critical role in preventing loss and injury.
Insurance policies often include conditions requiring these systems to be regularly maintained and tested.
For example:
Failure to maintain fire protection systems can invalidate a claim if a fire occurs, regardless of how minor or major the loss is.
Insurers view overlooked equipment as hidden risk. A business may have comprehensive cover for major plant, but if smaller, neglected items fail and cause injury, property damage, or business interruption, insurers will scrutinise:
Lack of records or evidence of negligence can lead to claim disputes or reductions in settlement, even if the underlying insurance policy would otherwise respond.
The key is a comprehensive inspection programme. Businesses should:
By treating all equipment — large or small — as part of your engineering inspection regime, you not only safeguard employees and visitors but also ensure your insurance remains valid.
