GA1 thorough examination reports for plant and lifting equipment in Ireland.
A practical guide to GA1 reports, thorough examinations and keeping equipment documentation organised. EquipSet stores records; it does not perform or issue examinations.
Start free trialWhat is a GA1?
A GA1 is the Health and Safety Authority's report format for recording a thorough examination and testing of lifting equipment under the relevant provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations.
The HSA's GA1 form records information such as the equipment identity, type, serial number, safe working load, tests or thorough examination carried out, defects identified and the latest date for the next examination. The examination is carried out by a competent person. The HSA also states that the GA1 is not an approved or statutory form and that reports may be produced in other formats.
For the current official form and requirements, refer to the HSA GA1 form and the relevant legislation and guidance.
GA1 is not the same as a routine machine check
Construction equipment can have several different types of inspection, examination and maintenance record. A routine operator check or documented weekly inspection is not automatically the same thing as a statutory thorough examination.
For example, HSA guidance for construction plant identifies weekly documented inspections for certain machines and also refers to a certificate of thorough examination being kept on file. The exact requirements depend on the equipment and how it is being used.
This distinction matters when building an equipment register: the machine record should make it clear which documents relate to routine inspections, which relate to thorough examinations, and which relate to other maintenance or certification activity.
GA1, GA2 and GA3 — which form is which?
The HSA publishes several report templates with similar names, and they are easy to mix up:
GA1 — Report of Thorough Examination. Records the thorough examination and testing of lifting equipment, completed by a competent person.
GA2 — Report of Weekly Examination. Records the weekly examination of lifting equipment. This is the routine documented check, not the thorough examination — a GA2 does not substitute for a GA1. See the GA2 weekly examination guide.
GA3 — Inspection of Work Equipment for Working at Height. Records inspections of work equipment used for working at height. Like the GA1, the HSA notes it is not an approved or statutory form, and that it does not substitute for reports of thorough examination of lifting equipment.
Excavations, shafts, cofferdams and similar works are reported separately again, on the approved form AF3. For the current templates and what applies to your equipment, see the HSA forms page.
In an equipment register, the practical point is the same as above: keep each type of report filed against the machine it belongs to, clearly identified, so the weekly records and the thorough-examination reports are never confused.
What should an equipment record contain?
Machine identity
Record the asset, manufacturer, model, serial number and other information needed to identify the equipment.
Inspection history
Keep routine inspection results, dates, findings and actions against the correct machine.
Examination reports
Store relevant GA1 reports and other supporting documentation with the equipment record.
Defects and actions
Record issues found during checks and track the actions needed to address them.
How EquipSet fits in
EquipSet provides a digital equipment record that can bring inspections, faults, actions and supporting documents together. A QR code can take a site worker directly to the relevant machine record, while office users can review the equipment history across the fleet.
EquipSet does not inspect machinery, determine whether an examination is legally required, act as a competent person, or issue GA1 reports. Those responsibilities remain with the appropriate people and organisations.
The benefit is the record-keeping layer: once an inspection or examination has been completed, the resulting information and documents can be kept against the correct asset rather than being scattered across paper files and folders.
Keep plant documentation ready for the people who need it
For contractors and plant hire businesses, a structured equipment register makes it easier to find the history of a machine, review outstanding actions and locate supporting documents when they are needed.
Explore equipment inspection software · Read the plant and equipment register guide · See plant hire software
GA1 questions
Who completes a GA1 thorough examination?
The HSA GA1 form is intended to record a thorough examination carried out by a competent person. EquipSet can store the resulting report but does not carry out the examination.
Is a GA1 the same as a weekly plant inspection?
No. Routine inspections and thorough examinations can have different purposes and requirements. The applicable inspection or examination regime depends on the equipment and its use.
Can EquipSet store a GA1 report?
Yes. EquipSet can store relevant equipment documentation against the machine record so the report can be found alongside inspection history and other supporting records.
Does EquipSet issue GA1 certificates?
No. EquipSet is a record-management system. It does not perform examinations or issue GA1 reports.
What is a GA2 form?
The GA2 is the HSA's template for recording the weekly examination of lifting equipment. It is the routine documented check and does not substitute for a GA1 thorough examination.
What is a GA3 form?
The GA3 is the HSA's template for recording inspections of work equipment used for working at height. The HSA notes it is not an approved or statutory form and does not substitute for thorough-examination reports of lifting equipment.
Check the current HSA requirements
Use the Health and Safety Authority's current guidance and forms for the legal and technical requirements that apply to your equipment.