In Norway, lifting equipment that has been inspected must be clearly marked to show that it is safe for use. One way to do this is by using an annual inspection color, often referred to as “the color of the year” for lifting equipment.
The annual color provides a quick visual indication that the equipment has been inspected during a specific year. This method is commonly used when traditional inspection labels or digital tags are not practical.
The requirements for inspection and marking of lifting equipment are defined by Arbeidstilsynet. The purpose is to ensure safe use, proper maintenance, and documented inspections of lifting equipment across industries.
After inspection, lifting equipment must be marked with either:
Whether you use a control mark or a QR code, the marking must include:
An example of a tool using both inspection color, but also an Onix Tag with a QR code.
If it is not possible to use a control mark or QR code due to:
Then the equipment may instead be marked using the annual inspection color to document that it has been inspected.
This is considered an exception-based solution, not the preferred method.
The inspection color rotates on a fixed four-year cycle and will always be one of the following colors:
Here is an overview of the annual colors:
The Annual Inspection Colors for Lifting Equipment
While annual colors are useful for quick visual checks, they also have clear limitations:
For this reason, color marking is considered the bare minimum for inspection compliance.
With Onix Tags you can get instant access to a complete digital equipment overview that goes beyond color marking.
To achieve better control and full documentation, many companies choose to tag lifting equipment using QR, RFID or NFC tags.
Onix offers all of these tagging technologies, we call them Onix Tags. When scanned, the tag gives instant access to a complete digital equipment overview, including:
Global energy services and engineering leader Aker Solutions uses digital tagging and inspections to manage and control lifting equipment efficiently.
Read the full customer story here
If you want to move beyond annual color marking and gain full visibility and documentation of your lifting equipment, Onix can help.
What is the inspection color for lifting equipment this year?
This year (2026) it is yellow. The inspection color changes annually on a four-year rotation and is used when standard inspection labels or QR codes cannot be applied.
Is color marking enough to document inspections?
No. Color marking is considered the minimum requirement and does not replace documented inspection records.
Who is responsible for defining inspection requirements in Norway?
Inspection requirements are defined by Arbeidstilsynet and must be followed by equipment owners and inspectors.