Offshore wind assets operate in demanding environments where corrosion, ageing equipment, restricted access and incomplete maintenance records can complicate examination planning.

A written scheme of examination needs to do more than establish examination intervals. It must explain what requires examination, when examinations should take place and the technical evidence supporting those decisions.

At HSEQ-360 Limited, our approach focuses on connecting regulatory requirements with equipment condition, operating history and practical asset management.

Understanding the legal framework

Written schemes feature in both the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), although their requirements differ.

Under LOLER, thorough examinations normally take place every six months for equipment used to lift people and for lifting accessories, and every twelve months for other lifting equipment. Alternatively, examinations may follow a scheme drawn up by a competent person.

A competent person’s scheme can establish different examination intervals where these are supported by appropriate technical justification. HSE guidance recognises that intervals may need to be shorter or, exceptionally, longer, depending on the equipment and circumstances.

Under PSSR, a suitable written scheme must be in place before a qualifying pressure system is first operated. It must identify the relevant parts requiring examination and be drawn up, or certified as suitable, by a competent person. Examinations must then be carried out in accordance with the scheme.

Identifying the applicable regulatory duties is therefore an essential first step, particularly where offshore assets incorporate both lifting equipment and pressure-system components.

Examination intervals must follow the evidence

A credible examination strategy starts with understanding how equipment could deteriorate or fail.

For lifting equipment, the LOLER Approved Code of Practice identifies equipment condition, operating environment, frequency of use and the loads involved as relevant considerations when developing an examination scheme.

In practice, the supporting review may include:

  • Equipment identification, configuration and intended use.
  • Manufacturer’s instructions and design limitations.
  • Previous examination reports and outstanding defects.
  • Maintenance records, repairs and modifications.
  • Operating hours, load cycles and environmental exposure.
  • Consequences of failure and the reliability of supporting controls.

Low utilisation can be relevant, but it does not establish equipment condition on its own.

Offshore lifting equipment may experience corrosion, seal deterioration or other age-related degradation even when rarely used. Similarly, a history of satisfactory examinations must be considered alongside the scope of those examinations and any changes in operating conditions.

Examination intervals should therefore reflect the available technical evidence rather than operational convenience alone.

Managing incomplete information

Historical equipment records are not always complete, particularly where assets have changed ownership, undergone modification or remained in service for extended periods.

The important question is how missing information affects the proposed examination strategy.

At HSEQ-360 Limited, we favour explicit implementation criteria that identify the evidence or verification required before an individual asset can enter a proposed examination regime.

Depending on the equipment, this may involve confirming its identity, reviewing previous examination findings, closing outstanding defects or obtaining a competent person’s assessment of a design-life concern.

The scheme should make each asset’s status clear. Unresolved conditions must not disappear within a general statement that the wider fleet is covered.

Preparing a scheme does not, by itself, demonstrate that every asset is suitable for its proposed interval.

This distinction is particularly important when applying common examination arrangements across multiple offshore locations.

Keeping examination, maintenance and design life connected

Thorough examination and maintenance serve different purposes. Regular servicing does not remove the requirement for thorough examination under LOLER.

A practical scheme should explain how examination requirements interact with maintenance, component replacement and operating restrictions. It should also identify design-life questions requiring further assessment.

For example, equipment approaching a manufacturer’s stated calendar life may have accumulated relatively few operating hours.

That information is relevant, but it does not automatically establish that continued operation is acceptable.

The assessment must consider the basis of the original design-life limitation, the equipment’s condition and the deterioration mechanisms that remain applicable.

For offshore assets, environmental exposure can be particularly significant, even where mechanical utilisation is relatively low.

Making the scheme work across an offshore fleet

A common examination scheme can improve consistency across multiple offshore sites, provided equipment-specific and location-specific differences remain visible.

At HSEQ-360 Limited, we recommend a controlled core document supported by asset schedules recording applicability, exclusions, outstanding conditions and site-specific requirements.

Responsibilities should be clearly defined, including who verifies supporting evidence, who confirms implementation and who reviews subsequent changes.

Review triggers should include changes in equipment use, significant defects, modifications, incidents and new manufacturer information.

Under PSSR, written schemes must be kept under review and revised where necessary. Changes affecting the safety of a pressure system may require reassessment by a competent person.

An effective scheme must remain relevant throughout the equipment’s operational life rather than becoming a document that is simply filed away after approval.

Turning technical evidence into practical assurance

A written scheme of examination is only as effective as the evidence supporting it and the processes used to implement it.

For offshore wind operators managing complex assets across multiple locations, the challenge is to establish examination requirements that are technically justified, consistently applied and responsive to changing equipment conditions.

At HSEQ-360 Limited, we help organisations translate regulatory requirements and technical evidence into practical examination strategies that support asset integrity, operational safety and long-term compliance.

Need support with written schemes of examination?

Contact Steve Cook at HSEQ-360 Limited to discuss your asset examination requirements and how we can help develop a practical, evidence-based approach.

Email: info@hseq-360.co.uk