LOLER vs Servicing: What Care Homes Need to Know
For care homes, nursing homes and other care environments, keeping moving and handling equipment safe is essential. Hoists, slings, bath hoists and other lifting equipment are used every day to support residents and help care teams carry out essential tasks safely.
Two terms you will regularly hear when managing this equipment are LOLER inspections and servicing.
While they are closely related, they are not the same thing – and completing one does not remove the need for the other.
What is a LOLER inspection?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) place specific duties on organisations that use lifting equipment at work.
For equipment used to lift people, such as patient hoists and bath hoists, a thorough examination is generally required at least every six months, unless a different examination interval has been established by a competent person through a written examination scheme.
A LOLER thorough examination is designed to identify any defects, deterioration or other issues that could present a risk to people using the equipment.
Depending on the equipment, an examination can include checks of:
Hoists and lifting mechanisms
Slings and other lifting accessories
Brakes and safety mechanisms
Chains, straps and attachments
Structural components
Electrical and mechanical safety features
Signs of wear, damage or deterioration
The findings are recorded in a formal examination report, including details of any defects that require attention.
What does servicing involve?
Servicing is different.
While a LOLER examination focuses primarily on whether lifting equipment remains safe to use, servicing and preventative maintenance focus on keeping the equipment operating correctly and reliably.
A service may involve inspecting, testing, adjusting and maintaining components such as:
Batteries and charging systems
Motors and actuators
Wheels and castors
Brakes
Controls and emergency stops
Electrical components
Mechanical components
Lifting mechanisms
Servicing also provides an opportunity to identify developing faults before they result in equipment failure.
This is particularly important in care environments, where a failed hoist or bath lift can have a significant impact on both residents and staff.
Does servicing replace LOLER?
No. This is one of the most important distinctions for care providers to understand.
Having a hoist serviced does not mean that it has received its LOLER thorough examination.
Equally, having a current LOLER examination does not mean that the equipment no longer needs routine servicing or maintenance.
The two processes have different purposes and should work alongside one another.
A simple way to think about it is:
LOLER asks:Is the lifting equipment safe to continue using?
Servicing asks:Is the equipment operating correctly and being properly maintained?
Both are important when managing lifting equipment in a care environment.
What happens if a defect is found?
Whether a problem is identified during a LOLER examination or during routine servicing, it is important that it is properly assessed and dealt with.
If a defect identified during a LOLER examination presents a serious risk, the equipment may need to be taken out of service until the issue has been rectified.
This is why prompt repairs are an important part of an effective maintenance programme.
A small issue identified early may be relatively straightforward to resolve. If it is left until the equipment fails completely, however, the consequences can be much greater.
For a care home, an unexpected equipment failure could mean:
A resident's normal transfer routine is disrupted
Staff have to find alternative equipment
Additional manual handling risks are introduced
Emergency repairs are required
Replacement equipment may need to be sourced
Care staff have additional pressure placed on them
Regular servicing and preventative maintenance can help reduce the likelihood of these situations occurring.
Why care homes should look at the bigger picture
LOLER compliance is an important part of managing lifting equipment, but it shouldn't be viewed in isolation.
Care providers also need to consider their wider responsibilities for maintaining work equipment, including equipment that may fall under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).
The most effective approach is therefore to have a structured programme covering:
Inspection → Servicing → Repairs → Record Keeping → Preventative Maintenance
This allows care providers to identify problems, maintain equipment properly and keep a clear record of what has been inspected and what work has been carried out.
For organisations managing several care homes, having a centralised system can make this considerably easier, providing greater visibility of inspection dates, outstanding repairs and equipment history across multiple locations.
Keeping care equipment safe and reliable
LOLER inspections and servicing should not be seen as competing requirements.
They are two important parts of responsible equipment management.
LOLER thorough examinations help identify whether lifting equipment remains safe to use, while servicing and preventative maintenance help keep that equipment reliable and in good working condition.
For care providers, combining the two can help reduce unexpected breakdowns, minimise disruption and provide greater confidence that essential moving and handling equipment is being properly managed.
At Safer Lifts, we specialise in LOLER inspections, PUWER inspections, servicing, preventative maintenance and repairs for care homes, hospices, hospitals and specialist settings across the UK.
If you would like to discuss your current LOLER and equipment maintenance arrangements, get in touch with Safer Lifts and our team will be happy to help.
Safer Lifts – keeping care equipment safe, compliant and in service.
t: 01423 393361 e: sales@saferlifts.co.uk
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