Guide
LOLER vs PUWER for care equipment
LOLER and PUWER both apply to care equipment, but they cover different things and set different rules. Here's how to tell which applies, and how to meet both.
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Two sets of regulations, one goal
Both regulations were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and both came into force in 1998. Their aim is the same: equipment used at work must be safe. The difference is scope.
- PUWER, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, applies to all work equipment.
- LOLER, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, applies only to lifting equipment and lifting operations, and adds stricter, more specific duties on top of PUWER.
So lifting equipment is covered by both. Everything else is covered by PUWER alone.
Which equipment falls under which?
| Equipment | PUWER | LOLER |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile and ceiling hoists, stand aids | Yes | Yes |
| Slings and lifting accessories | Yes | Yes |
| Bath hoists and bath lifts | Yes | Yes |
| Passenger lifts and stairlifts | Yes | Yes |
| Profiling beds and trolleys | Yes | No |
| Height-adjustable baths, riser recliner chairs, active mattresses | Yes | No |
| Wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs | Yes | No |
| Trolleys, walking aids, patient chairs | Yes | No |
| Evacuation chairs | Yes | No |
The "No" rows come from HSE's own guidance, How LOLER applies to health and social care: height adjustment alone doesn't make something lifting equipment when its main job is to be a bed, bath or chair.
What each one requires
LOLER requires lifting equipment used to lift people, and all lifting accessories, to be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months, with a written report in a set format. Defects that pose a risk of serious injury must be reported to the enforcing authority.
PUWER requires work equipment to be suitable, maintained in good repair, and inspected at suitable intervals where it's exposed to conditions that cause deterioration. It doesn't set fixed intervals: you decide them based on the equipment and how it's used, usually following the manufacturer's guidance. Inspection results must be recorded and kept until the next inspection.
How to meet both without double-booking
The practical approach most care homes take:
- Every six months: LOLER thorough examination of every hoist, sling, bath hoist and other lifting equipment.
- At least once a year: a full service of lifting equipment and beds, usually on the same visit as one of the LOLER examinations.
- Once or twice a year: PUWER inspection of wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, trolleys and other equipment, also on the same visit.
- Every day: pre-use checks by staff.
Done this way, one contractor visit every six months covers both regulations and produces one set of records.
What CQC expects
CQC doesn't enforce LOLER and PUWER directly, but Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires equipment to be properly maintained and suitable for its purpose. Up-to-date LOLER reports and PUWER inspection records are the evidence inspectors look for.
One visit, both regulations
Shepherd carries out LOLER examinations, PUWER inspections and servicing together, so every item in your building is covered on one visit, in one report.
FAQs
LOLER and PUWER questions
Does a profiling bed need a LOLER inspection?
No. HSE guidance says profiling beds aren't lifting equipment under LOLER, because their main function is to be a bed. They are covered by PUWER and must be maintained and inspected, usually through an annual service in line with the manufacturer's guidance.
Is an evacuation chair covered by LOLER?
No. Evacuation chairs don't lift people in the LOLER sense. They are covered by PUWER and, as fire safety equipment, by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which require them to be maintained.
Who enforces LOLER and PUWER in care homes?
The Health and Safety Executive or the local authority, depending on the type of premises. CQC also expects equipment to be properly maintained under Regulation 15.
Keep every bed, hoist and chair safe, compliant and working
Book a free on-site survey or talk to our team about servicing, LOLER inspections, repairs and equipment supply.