[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":461},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-nav":3,"site-settings":147,"page-\u002Fblog\u002Fsling-inspection-checklist":189,"mdc-xewcp4-key":431,"mdc-7gngbj-key":443,"mdc-s06v7w-key":452},{"services":4,"sectors":104},[5,12,18,24,30,36,42,49,55,61,67,73,79,85,92,98],{"title":6,"summary":7,"icon":8,"to":9,"slug":10,"group":11},"LOLER Hoist Inspections","Six-monthly LOLER thorough examinations for patient hoists, stand aids and slings, with a written report for each item. From £45 + VAT per hoist. UK-wide.","lucide:clipboard-check","\u002Fservices\u002Floler-hoist-inspections\u002F","loler-hoist-inspections","Inspections & compliance",{"title":13,"summary":14,"icon":15,"to":16,"slug":17,"group":11},"Sling Inspections","Six-monthly LOLER inspections for patient hoist slings, with a report for every sling and clear advice on what to replace. From £10 + VAT per sling. UK-wide.","lucide:link","\u002Fservices\u002Fsling-inspections\u002F","sling-inspections",{"title":19,"summary":20,"icon":21,"to":22,"slug":23,"group":11},"PUWER Inspections","PUWER inspections for wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, trolleys and other care equipment not covered by LOLER. From £35 + VAT per item.","lucide:shield-check","\u002Fservices\u002Fpuwer-inspections\u002F","puwer-inspections",{"title":25,"summary":26,"icon":27,"to":28,"slug":29,"group":11},"PAT Testing for Care Homes","PAT testing and electrical safety testing for care homes, nursing homes and hospitals, including medical electrical equipment. From £1.50 + VAT per item.","lucide:plug-zap","\u002Fservices\u002Fpat-testing\u002F","pat-testing",{"title":31,"summary":32,"icon":33,"to":34,"slug":35,"group":11},"Medical Scale Calibration","Calibration and accuracy checks for chair, platform, hoist and seated scales in care homes and hospitals. Class III medical scales. From £40 + VAT per scale.","lucide:scale","\u002Fservices\u002Fscale-calibration\u002F","scale-calibration",{"title":37,"summary":38,"icon":39,"to":40,"slug":41,"group":11},"Asset Tagging & Reporting","Barcode asset tagging for care and hospital equipment, with location records, service history and electronic reports after every visit.","lucide:scan-barcode","\u002Fservices\u002Fasset-tagging\u002F","asset-tagging",{"title":43,"summary":44,"icon":45,"to":46,"slug":47,"group":48},"Servicing & Maintenance Contracts","Medical equipment servicing contracts for care homes and hospitals, covering beds, hoists, baths, chairs and trolleys. No minimums, UK-wide.","lucide:calendar-check","\u002Fservices\u002Fmedical-equipment-servicing\u002F","medical-equipment-servicing","Servicing & repairs",{"title":50,"summary":51,"icon":52,"to":53,"slug":54,"group":48},"Hoist Servicing & Repairs","Patient hoist servicing and repairs for care homes and hospitals. Mobile hoists, stand aids, all makes. From £45 + VAT per hoist. Hampshire-based, UK-wide.","lucide:wrench","\u002Fservices\u002Fhoist-servicing-repairs\u002F","hoist-servicing-repairs",{"title":56,"summary":57,"icon":58,"to":59,"slug":60,"group":48},"Ceiling Track Hoist Servicing","LOLER examinations, servicing and repairs for ceiling track and gantry hoists in care homes, hospitals and SEN schools. From £45 + VAT per hoist. UK-wide.","lucide:move-horizontal","\u002Fservices\u002Fceiling-track-hoist-servicing\u002F","ceiling-track-hoist-servicing",{"title":62,"summary":63,"icon":64,"to":65,"slug":66,"group":48},"Bath Hoist & Assisted Bath Servicing","LOLER examinations, servicing and repairs for bath hoists, assisted baths and shower trolleys in care homes and hospitals. From £45 + VAT each. UK-wide.","lucide:bath","\u002Fservices\u002Fbath-hoist-assisted-bath-servicing\u002F","bath-hoist-assisted-bath-servicing",{"title":68,"summary":69,"icon":70,"to":71,"slug":72,"group":48},"Bed Servicing & Repairs","Profiling and hospital bed servicing, bed rail checks and repairs for care homes and hospitals. All makes, first-visit fixes. From £23 + VAT per bed.","lucide:bed","\u002Fservices\u002Fbed-servicing-repairs\u002F","bed-servicing-repairs",{"title":74,"summary":75,"icon":76,"to":77,"slug":78,"group":48},"Pressure Mattress Servicing","Servicing, testing and repairs for dynamic air and pressure-relieving mattresses and pumps in care homes and hospitals. From £55 + VAT per mattress. UK-wide.","lucide:bed-double","\u002Fservices\u002Fpressure-mattress-servicing\u002F","pressure-mattress-servicing",{"title":80,"summary":81,"icon":82,"to":83,"slug":84,"group":48},"Evacuation Chair Servicing","Annual evac chair servicing for care homes, hospitals, offices, schools and airports. All major makes, fire safety records. From £110 + VAT a chair.","lucide:flame","\u002Fservices\u002Fevacuation-chair-servicing\u002F","evacuation-chair-servicing",{"title":86,"summary":87,"icon":88,"to":89,"slug":90,"group":91},"Equipment Supply","Care home equipment supplier for profiling beds, mattresses, hoists, slings, stand aids and chairs, with servicing and after-sales support. UK-wide.","lucide:package","\u002Fservices\u002Fequipment-supply\u002F","equipment-supply","Supply, hire & training",{"title":93,"summary":94,"icon":95,"to":96,"slug":97,"group":91},"Care Equipment Hire","Hire profiling beds, pressure mattresses, hoists and bath hoists for care homes and hospitals. Delivered and serviced. Beds from £35 + VAT a week.","lucide:calendar-range","\u002Fservices\u002Fequipment-hire\u002F","equipment-hire",{"title":99,"summary":100,"icon":101,"to":102,"slug":103,"group":91},"Evacuation Chair Training","On-site evacuation chair training for care homes, offices, schools and public buildings. Hands-on, on your own stairs and chairs. From £450 + VAT per session.","lucide:graduation-cap","\u002Fservices\u002Fevacuation-chair-training\u002F","evacuation-chair-training",[105,111,117,123,129,135,141],{"title":106,"summary":107,"icon":108,"to":109,"slug":110,"group":48},"Care & Nursing Homes","LOLER hoist inspections, profiling bed servicing, repairs and equipment supply for care and nursing homes. No minimums, CQC-ready records.","lucide:house-heart","\u002Fsectors\u002Fcare-homes\u002F","care-homes",{"title":112,"summary":113,"icon":114,"to":115,"slug":116,"group":48},"NHS Trusts","Planned maintenance, LOLER inspections and repairs for NHS trusts, beds, trolleys, chairs and hoists, with itemised quotes and electronic reports.","lucide:hospital","\u002Fsectors\u002Fnhs-trusts\u002F","nhs-trusts",{"title":118,"summary":119,"icon":120,"to":121,"slug":122,"group":48},"Private Hospitals & Clinics","Tailored servicing, LOLER inspections, repairs and equipment supply for private hospitals and clinics, with electronic reports and a full audit trail per asset.","lucide:stethoscope","\u002Fsectors\u002Fprivate-hospitals\u002F","private-hospitals",{"title":124,"summary":125,"icon":126,"to":127,"slug":128,"group":48},"Hospices","LOLER hoist inspections, profiling bed and mattress servicing, repairs and equipment hire for hospices and palliative care units. No minimums. UK-wide.","lucide:heart-handshake","\u002Fsectors\u002Fhospices\u002F","hospices",{"title":130,"summary":131,"icon":132,"to":133,"slug":134,"group":48},"Local Authorities & Care Agencies","LOLER inspections, servicing and repairs for local authority and care agency equipment across multiple sites, with itemised pricing and full asset registers.","lucide:landmark","\u002Fsectors\u002Flocal-authorities\u002F","local-authorities",{"title":136,"summary":137,"icon":138,"to":139,"slug":140,"group":48},"SEN Schools & Colleges","LOLER hoist and sling inspections, ceiling hoist and changing bench servicing, and evac chairs for special schools and colleges. UK-wide.","lucide:school","\u002Fsectors\u002Fsen-schools\u002F","sen-schools",{"title":142,"summary":143,"icon":144,"to":145,"slug":146,"group":48},"Offices, Airports & Venues","Evacuation chair servicing and training, plus hoist LOLER inspections, for offices, airports, universities, venues and public buildings. UK-wide.","lucide:building","\u002Fsectors\u002Foffices-airports-venues\u002F","offices-airports-venues",{"trustPoints":148,"processSteps":163,"offer":178,"ctaBand":186},[149,153,156,160],{"title":150,"description":151,"icon":152},"40+ years' experience","Servicing for the NHS and private sector","lucide:award",{"title":154,"description":155,"icon":52},"All makes and models","Multi-brand engineers, authentic parts",{"title":157,"description":158,"icon":159},"Full electronic reports","An audit trail for every asset, every visit","lucide:file-check-2",{"title":161,"description":162,"icon":21},"DBS-checked engineers","Uniformed, ID-carrying and fully trained",[164,168,172,175],{"title":165,"description":166,"icon":167},"Free on-site survey","We visit, audit your equipment and asset numbers, and look for savings against your current supplier.","lucide:clipboard-list",{"title":169,"description":170,"icon":171},"Clear, itemised quote","A quote for exactly the equipment and service frequency you need. No hidden costs and no minimum number of assets.","lucide:receipt-text",{"title":173,"description":174,"icon":45},"Scheduled visits","Quarterly, six-monthly or annual visits. Engineers carry spare parts so most faults are fixed first time.",{"title":176,"description":177,"icon":159},"Reports and asset records","Every item barcoded and logged, with a full electronic report after each visit, ready for audits and inspections.",{"title":179,"description":180,"points":181},"Free on-site equipment survey","We'll visit your site, audit your equipment and asset numbers, and show you where you could save compared with your current servicing supplier. It's free, with no obligation.",[182,183,184,185],"Every asset recorded by type, location and condition","Potential savings against your current supplier identified","Advice on the right service frequency for each item","A clear, itemised quote, only if you want one",{"title":187,"description":188},"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.",{"id":190,"title":191,"body":192,"description":423,"extension":424,"meta":425,"navigation":426,"noindex":426,"path":427,"seo":428,"stem":429,"__hash__":430},"pages\u002Fblog\u002Fsling-inspection-checklist.md","Hoist Sling Inspection Checklist",{"type":193,"value":194,"toc":413},"minimark",[195,202,408],[196,197],"hero",{"date":198,"eyebrow":199,"heading":200,"intro":201},"2026-10-07","Guide","Hoist sling inspection checklist","Slings wear faster than any other part of a hoist transfer. Use this checklist before every use, and know when a sling has to come out of service.",[203,204,208,213,217,234,238,365,371,375,378,382,385,389,392,396],"article-section",{":checklist":205,":relatedServices":206,"checklistHeading":207},"[\"Label present and readable\",\"Right sling type and size for the person\",\"Stitching intact at seams and loops\",\"Webbing free of cuts, fraying and thinning\",\"Loops, straps and clips undamaged\",\"No laundry or heat damage\",\"Within its six-monthly examination date\"]","[\"sling-inspections\",\"loler-hoist-inspections\",\"equipment-supply\"]","Before every use, check",[209,210,212],"h2",{"id":211},"two-kinds-of-sling-check","Two kinds of sling check",[214,215,216],"p",{},"Every hoist sling needs two different checks:",[218,219,220,228],"ol",{},[221,222,223,227],"li",{},[224,225,226],"strong",{},"A pre-use check by staff, every time."," A quick visual and hands-on check before each transfer, using the checklist on this page.",[221,229,230,233],{},[224,231,232],{},"A LOLER thorough examination at least every six months."," Slings are lifting accessories under LOLER 1998, so a competent person must examine each one at least every six months and issue a written report.",[209,235,237],{"id":236},"the-pre-use-sling-checklist","The pre-use sling checklist",[239,240,241,257],"table",{},[242,243,244],"thead",{},[245,246,247,251,254],"tr",{},[248,249,250],"th",{},"Check",[248,252,253],{},"Pass",[248,255,256],{},"Withdraw the sling if…",[258,259,260,274,287,300,313,326,339,352],"tbody",{},[245,261,262,268,271],{},[263,264,265],"td",{},[224,266,267],{},"Label",[263,269,270],{},"Present and readable, showing the type, size and safe working load",[263,272,273],{},"The label is missing, unreadable or the sling can't be identified",[245,275,276,281,284],{},[263,277,278],{},[224,279,280],{},"Type and size",[263,282,283],{},"Matches the person's care plan and the hoist in use",[263,285,286],{},"It's the wrong size or type, or isn't compatible with the hoist",[245,288,289,294,297],{},[263,290,291],{},[224,292,293],{},"Stitching",[263,295,296],{},"All seams intact, especially at loops and strap joins",[263,298,299],{},"Any broken, pulled or loose stitching",[245,301,302,307,310],{},[263,303,304],{},[224,305,306],{},"Webbing and fabric",[263,308,309],{},"Even, flexible, no damage",[263,311,312],{},"Cuts, holes, fraying, thinning or stiff, hardened patches",[245,314,315,320,323],{},[263,316,317],{},[224,318,319],{},"Loops and straps",[263,321,322],{},"Undamaged and the right length",[263,324,325],{},"Stretched, twisted, frayed or torn loops",[245,327,328,333,336],{},[263,329,330],{},[224,331,332],{},"Clips and buckles",[263,334,335],{},"Close and lock securely",[263,337,338],{},"Cracked, bent or not locking",[245,340,341,346,349],{},[263,342,343],{},[224,344,345],{},"Laundry damage",[263,347,348],{},"Colour and texture normal",[263,350,351],{},"Shrinkage, discolouration or a stiff feel from hot washes or chemicals",[245,353,354,359,362],{},[263,355,356],{},[224,357,358],{},"Examination date",[263,360,361],{},"Within six months of the last LOLER examination",[263,363,364],{},"Overdue for examination",[214,366,367,370],{},[224,368,369],{},"If in doubt, take it out."," A sling that fails any check shouldn't be used until it has been examined. Most sling damage can't be repaired safely, so a failed sling usually needs replacing.",[209,372,374],{"id":373},"laundering-slings","Laundering slings",[214,376,377],{},"Laundry is one of the main causes of sling damage. Follow the manufacturer's washing and drying instructions exactly, avoid temperatures and chemicals they don't allow, and check slings again after laundering. Some manufacturers recommend withdrawing slings after a certain number of washes or years in service.",[209,379,381],{"id":380},"named-slings-and-infection-control","Named slings and infection control",[214,383,384],{},"Many homes assign slings to individual residents for comfort and infection control. Each named sling still needs its own six-monthly examination and its own record. Give every sling a unique ID so its examination history stays with it.",[209,386,388],{"id":387},"keep-the-records","Keep the records",[214,390,391],{},"The LOLER report for each sling should identify the sling, record any defects and give the date of the next examination. Keep periodic reports until the next one is made, or for two years, whichever is later.",[209,393,395],{"id":394},"sling-inspections-from-shepherd","Sling inspections from Shepherd",[214,397,398,399,403,404,407],{},"We examine every sling in your building on the same visit as your hoists, tag each one, and withdraw any that aren't safe on the day. ",[400,401,402],"a",{"href":16},"Sling inspections"," start from £10 + VAT per sling, and we can ",[400,405,406],{"href":89},"supply compatible replacements",".",[409,410],"faqs",{":questions":411,"heading":412},"[{\"question\":\"How often do hoist slings need a LOLER inspection?\",\"answer\":\"At least every six months, as they're lifting accessories used to lift people. Staff should also check each sling before every use.\"},{\"question\":\"Can a sling with damaged stitching be repaired?\",\"answer\":\"Generally no. Damaged stitching, webbing or loops usually mean the sling must be withdrawn and replaced. Only the manufacturer can advise otherwise.\"},{\"question\":\"Can any sling be used with any hoist?\",\"answer\":\"No. Slings must be compatible with the hoist and spreader bar they're used with, as specified by the manufacturers. Using an incompatible sling is a common cause of incidents.\"}]","Sling questions",{"title":414,"searchDepth":415,"depth":415,"links":416},"",2,[417,418,419,420,421,422],{"id":211,"depth":415,"text":212},{"id":236,"depth":415,"text":237},{"id":373,"depth":415,"text":374},{"id":380,"depth":415,"text":381},{"id":387,"depth":415,"text":388},{"id":394,"depth":415,"text":395},"A hoist sling inspection checklist for care staff - what to check before every use, how often slings need a LOLER examination, and when to withdraw a sling.","md",{},false,"\u002Fblog\u002Fsling-inspection-checklist",{"title":191,"description":423},"blog\u002Fsling-inspection-checklist","0xDKkhQ0UNM86q9MS8S-KVNyHaRIZbpIpDBfW-bwec4",{"data":432,"body":433},{},{"type":434,"children":435},"root",[436],{"type":437,"tag":214,"props":438,"children":439},"element",{},[440],{"type":441,"value":442},"text","At least every six months, as they're lifting accessories used to lift people. Staff should also check each sling before every use.",{"data":444,"body":445},{},{"type":434,"children":446},[447],{"type":437,"tag":214,"props":448,"children":449},{},[450],{"type":441,"value":451},"Generally no. Damaged stitching, webbing or loops usually mean the sling must be withdrawn and replaced. Only the manufacturer can advise otherwise.",{"data":453,"body":454},{},{"type":434,"children":455},[456],{"type":437,"tag":214,"props":457,"children":458},{},[459],{"type":441,"value":460},"No. Slings must be compatible with the hoist and spreader bar they're used with, as specified by the manufacturers. Using an incompatible sling is a common cause of incidents.",1792145313028]