If a stillage is lifted, slung or craned as part of your operation, its load capacity is not a nice-to-know figure — it is a legal and safety requirement. Overload a lifting stillage and you risk structural failure, dropped loads, injury and a breach of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). This guide explains how stillage load capacity is determined under LOLER, what the Safe Working Load actually means, and how to make sure the stillages you buy and use are properly rated, marked and examined.
At Lowe Stillages & Cages we design, manufacture and load-test steel stillages in the UK, so this is ground we cover every day. For the wider regulatory picture, read our full LOLER compliance guide for stillages alongside this article.
What LOLER Says About Load Capacity
LOLER 1998 applies whenever lifting equipment is used at work — and a stillage designed to be lifted with its load (by forklift tines, crane or lifting frame) falls squarely within its scope. The regulations do not set a single “maximum weight” for stillages. Instead, they place duties on the person responsible for the equipment. The key points that drive load capacity are:
- Strong and stable enough for the job (Reg 4): lifting equipment must be of adequate strength and stability for each load, with the safe working load respected in use.
- Marked with its Safe Working Load (Reg 7): machinery and accessories for lifting must be clearly marked to indicate their SWL. A lifting stillage should carry a legible, durable SWL marking.
- Thorough examination by a competent person (Reg 9): lifting equipment must be examined at set intervals — typically at least every 12 months for equipment lifting loads (and at least every 6 months for equipment that lifts people), or in accordance with an examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.
- Records kept (Reg 11): reports of thorough examination and any defects must be retained and acted upon.
In practice, that means every lifting stillage in your fleet needs a defensible rated capacity, a clear SWL mark, and a schedule of examination — not a guess based on how it looks.
SWL and WLL: Getting the Terminology Right
Two terms come up constantly and are often confused:
- Safe Working Load (SWL): the maximum load the equipment is certified to handle safely in a given configuration. This is the figure that appears on your stillage and on its documentation.
- Working Load Limit (WLL): the maximum load a component (such as a lifting eye or sling) is rated to bear, as specified by the manufacturer.
Never load a stillage beyond its stated SWL, and remember that the rated capacity assumes an evenly distributed load. Concentrated point loads, off-centre loading or dynamic snatch loads during lifting can all exceed the design intent even when the total weight is within the SWL.
How Stillage Load Capacity Is Determined
1. Manufacturer’s Specifications
Your first and most reliable source is the manufacturer’s documentation and the marking on the stillage itself. A reputable UK manufacturer will provide a rated capacity specific to the design, the steel grade and section used, and the intended handling method. If a stillage arrives with no capacity marking and no paperwork, treat that as a red flag — you cannot demonstrate LOLER compliance for equipment you cannot rate.
2. Engineering Design and Analysis
Capacity is set at the design stage, not estimated afterwards. It depends on the dimensions, the steel section and wall thickness, weld quality, base and foot design, and how the stillage is picked up. Modern manufacturers use structural calculation and finite element analysis (FEA) to model stress and predict safe capacity before a single part is cut. If you are specifying a new stillage, capturing the real-world load, handling method and stacking requirements up front produces a properly rated design — our buyer’s and design guide walks through exactly what to provide.
3. Load Testing and Certification
Design calculations are validated by physical load testing under controlled conditions — applying a known proof load with calibrated equipment and confirming the stillage performs without permanent deformation or failure. A competent person then issues certification confirming the rated capacity. This is what turns “we think it holds a tonne” into a documented, defensible SWL. Our Liftable Sheeted Stillage and Liftable Mesh Stillage are both supplied with load testing included, and the full range sits in our Certified Lifting Stillages category.
4. Standards and UKCA Certification
Design and manufacture should follow recognised standards for steel fabrication and lifting equipment, and Lowe’s lifting products carry UKCA marking, the UK conformity assessment mark. If you want the background, see our explainer on what UKCA certification is and why it matters. Standards and certification give you an auditable baseline for capacity and quality rather than relying on unverified claims.
5. Competent-Person Advice and Ongoing Examination
Determining an initial capacity is only half the story. Under LOLER, a competent person — someone with the knowledge, experience and independence to judge the equipment — must carry out thorough examinations at the required intervals and after any event that could affect safety. If you are unsure how to rate an existing stillage, or need a written scheme of examination, consult a competent person rather than assuming the original figure still holds after years of service. Our guide on navigating LOLER regulations for stillages and cages explains the examination duties in more detail.
LOLER vs PUWER: Which Applies to Your Stillage?
Not every stillage is lifting equipment. A stillage that only ever sits on the floor or is moved by pallet truck is work equipment governed by the Provisions and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) — it must still be suitable, maintained and safe, but it does not need SWL marking or LOLER thorough examination. As soon as a stillage is lifted with its load, LOLER applies on top of PUWER. Knowing which regime governs each item in your fleet tells you what marking, testing and examination records you must keep.
Practical Steps for a Compliant Stillage Fleet
- Identify which stillages are lifted with their load — those fall under LOLER.
- Confirm each lifting stillage carries a clear, durable SWL marking.
- Hold the design, load-test and certification paperwork for every rated stillage.
- Load evenly and never exceed the SWL; account for point loads and stacking.
- Schedule thorough examinations by a competent person and keep the reports.
- Withdraw and reassess any stillage that is damaged, modified or failing examination.
Get these basics right and load capacity stops being a source of risk and becomes a documented, auditable part of your safe system of work. For related good practice, see our guides on safe stacking and stability and stillage safety in the workplace.
Get a Load-Tested, Certified Stillage from Lowe
We manufacture and load-test steel stillages here in the UK, supply certified lifting stillages with documented SWLs, and can design a bespoke, correctly rated stillage for your exact load and handling method. To make sure the specification captures everything needed for an accurate rating, use our accurate-quote technical guide. When you are ready, get a quote or contact our team and we will help you specify a compliant, load-tested solution.