What Is a GA1? The Complete Guide to GA1 Inspections in Ireland

A GA1 is the report of thorough examination for lifting equipment in Ireland. It is completed by a competent person after they examine your lifting equipment or lifting accessories, and it is the document the HSA, your insurer, or a main contractor will ask to see as proof that your equipment is safe to use.

If you own or operate cranes, telehandlers, forklifts, MEWPs, hoists, chains, slings, or any other lifting gear, this guide explains everything you need to know.

Where the GA1 comes from

The requirement for thorough examination comes from the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, as amended. These Regulations require that lifting equipment is thoroughly examined by a competent person at set intervals, and that the results are recorded.

The GA1 form itself was produced by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to make that recording easier. An important detail most people miss: the GA1 is not a statutory form. What the law requires is that the information set out in Schedule 1 Part E of the Regulations is recorded — the GA1 is simply the standard way of doing it, and it is what everyone in the industry recognises.

What equipment needs a GA1?

In broad terms, anything used for lifting or lowering loads, and the accessories used to attach loads, falls in scope. That includes:

• Telehandlers, forklifts and loading shovels
• Mobile and tower cranes, truck-mounted cranes and lorry loaders
• MEWPs, cherry pickers and scissor lifts
• Excavators when used for lifting
• Hoists, winches and lifting beams
• Chains, slings, shackles, hooks and eyebolts
• Tractor front loaders and attachments used for lifting

If you are unsure whether a particular machine or attachment is in scope, ask — it is far cheaper than finding out during an HSA visit.

How often is a GA1 needed?

The interval depends on what the equipment does:

• Every 6 months — equipment used to lift people (MEWPs, cherry pickers, man baskets) and lifting accessories (chains, slings, shackles).
• Every 12 months — other lifting equipment (telehandlers, forklifts, cranes, excavators used for lifting).
• Immediately — after substantial alteration or repair, or after any incident that could affect the equipment's safety, a fresh thorough examination is needed regardless of when the last one was done.

We cover the intervals in more detail in our guide to how often a GA1 inspection is required.

Who can carry out a GA1?

A competent person. That means someone with the training, practical experience and knowledge of the specific equipment to detect defects and judge whether they matter. In practice, this is an inspector from a specialist lifting equipment inspection company — independent of the people who use or maintain the machine day to day. See our guide to what "competent person" actually means.

What is recorded on the form?

A completed GA1 identifies the equipment (type, serial number, year of manufacture), its safe working load for each configuration, the owner, the person and company that carried out the examination, the date, the result, any defects found, and when the next thorough examination is due.

Any defect that is a danger to persons must be dealt with — the report is your record that either the equipment is safe, or exactly what has to be fixed before it goes back to work.

Is a GA1 a certificate?

Strictly speaking, no — it is a report of thorough examination, not a certificate. Almost everyone in the industry says "GA1 cert", and that is fine day to day, but the distinction matters when you are checking paperwork. What makes the document valid is the examination behind it and the competent person who signed it, not the word at the top. We unpack this in Is a GA1 a certificate or a report?.

GA1 frequently asked questions

Does a new machine need a GA1? Equipment should be examined before first use where its safety depends on installation conditions, and it enters the normal 6 or 12 month cycle from there. Ask your supplier what documentation comes with the machine.

Is a GA1 needed on farms? Yes — the Regulations apply to workplaces generally, not just construction sites. Front loaders, telehandlers and lifting attachments on farms are in scope.

What about hired equipment? The hire company typically supplies a current GA1 with the machine, but as the user you must check it is in date before the equipment is used.

Does a UK LOLER report count in Ireland? The regimes are similar but separate — see our guide to GA1 vs LOLER.

Book a GA1 inspection

L&M Plant & Inspection Services Ltd. carries out GA1 thorough examinations nationwide on all makes and models of lifting equipment and accessories. One visit, all your equipment, reports issued on completion. Call 083 870 5355 to arrange your inspection.