Required every six months
LOLER 1998 requires equipment used to lift people, and every lifting accessory such as a sling, to be thoroughly examined at least every six months, or in line with a written scheme of examination.
LOLER inspections
LOLER hoist inspections and servicing for care homes and hospitals
Six-monthly thorough examinations of your patient hoists, stand aids and slings by trained engineers, with a clear report for every item, so you stay compliant and residents and staff stay safe.
- Mobile, ceiling, bath and standing hoists
- Slings and lifting accessories examined
- Defects reported clearly, with repair quotes
- Records ready for CQC inspections and insurers
From £45 + VAT per hoist
- 40+ years' experienceServicing for the NHS and private sector
- All makes and modelsMulti-brand engineers, authentic parts
- Full electronic reportsAn audit trail for every asset, every visit
- DBS-checked engineersUniformed, ID-carrying and fully trained
Why it matters
LOLER is a legal duty, not a nice-to-have
If your organisation uses equipment to lift people, you're responsible for making sure it's thoroughly examined on time, every time.
Protects residents and staff
Worn slings, failing actuators and cracked spreader bars are exactly what a thorough examination is designed to catch before someone is hurt during a transfer.
The evidence inspectors ask for
CQC inspectors, insurers and your own governance team will expect current reports of thorough examination for every hoist and sling in use.
What is a LOLER inspection?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply to any workplace equipment used to lift loads, and that includes people. In care homes, hospitals and community settings, that means patient hoists, stand aids, bath hoists and the slings used with them.
A LOLER inspection, formally called a thorough examination, is a systematic, detailed check of that equipment by a competent person. It looks for wear, damage and deterioration that could make the equipment unsafe, and it ends with a written report stating whether each item is safe to keep using.
How often do hoists need a LOLER inspection?
| Equipment | LOLER thorough examination | Recommended service |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile hoists | At least every 6 months | Annually |
| Ceiling track hoists | At least every 6 months, and after installation | Annually |
| Bath and pool hoists | At least every 6 months | Annually |
| Stand aids and standing hoists | At least every 6 months | Annually |
| Slings and lifting accessories | At least every 6 months | Visual check before every use |
A thorough examination is also needed after anything that could affect the equipment's safety, such as damage, a significant repair or relocating a fixed hoist.
What our engineers examine
On every visit we examine each item in line with LOLER and the manufacturer's guidance, including:
- Structure and chassis: cracks, deformation, corrosion and fixings on masts, booms, legs and spreader bars
- Lifting mechanism: actuators, straps, motors and gearboxes under load
- Controls and safety systems: handsets, emergency stop, emergency lowering and overload protection
- Power: batteries, chargers and cables
- Castors and brakes: smooth movement and secure braking on mobile hoists
- Ceiling track systems: track, end stops, carriage and fixings
- Slings: labels and safe working loads, stitching, webbing, loops, clips and signs of laundering damage
What a LOLER report must include
People often ask for a "LOLER certificate". Strictly, LOLER requires a written report of thorough examination, and Schedule 1 of the Regulations sets out what it must contain. Every report we issue includes:
- The name and address of the duty holder and the premises where the examination took place
- Details identifying the equipment, including its serial or asset number and safe working load
- The date of the examination and the date the next one is due
- Any defect that is, or could become, a danger to people, and the repairs needed
- The name, address and qualifications of the person making the report
- A clear statement of whether the equipment is safe to use
LOLER requires you to keep each six-monthly report until the next one is made, or for two years, whichever is later. Our electronic reports keep that history for you, item by item.
When we find a defect
If we find a problem, we tell you on the day and make sure the item is clearly identified as out of use. Where a defect poses a risk of serious injury, LOLER requires the examiner to report it to the enforcing authority, and we handle that for you. You then receive a clear, itemised repair quote. Because our engineers carry an extensive range of spare parts, many repairs can be completed straight away, so equipment is back in service sooner.
Records that stand up to inspection
Every hoist and sling is barcoded on our first visit. After each visit you receive a full electronic report showing each item's examination result, the work carried out and any recommended repairs. That gives you a transparent history for every asset and an easy answer when a CQC inspector, insurer or auditor asks for your LOLER records.
Combine LOLER with the rest of your servicing
A LOLER examination checks that a hoist is safe; it isn't maintenance. Most manufacturers also recommend a full service at least once a year, and we can service your hoists on the same visit. Slings are examined to the same six-monthly schedule: see sling inspections.
Most sites that need hoist inspections also have profiling beds, chairs, commodes and trolleys that need regular servicing. We can examine your hoists and service your other equipment on the same visit, under one contract, with one report. See our servicing contracts.
LOLER inspections near you: Hampshire and across the UK
Our base is in Lee-on-the-Solent, near Gosport and Fareham, and we carry out LOLER inspections for care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices and community services across Portsmouth, Southampton, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Winchester, Basingstoke and the Isle of Wight, as well as West Sussex and Dorset. We also run LOLER contracts for NHS and private-sector clients nationwide. Equipment servicing in Hampshire.
How it works
From first call to compliant equipment
- 1
Free on-site survey
We visit, audit your equipment and asset numbers, and look for savings against your current supplier.
- 2
Clear, itemised quote
A quote for exactly the equipment and service frequency you need. No hidden costs and no minimum number of assets.
- 3
Scheduled visits
Quarterly, six-monthly or annual visits. Engineers carry spare parts so most faults are fixed first time.
- 4
Reports and asset records
Every item barcoded and logged, with a full electronic report after each visit, ready for audits and inspections.
Also from Shepherd
One supplier for all your equipment
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.
Find out moreServicing & Maintenance Contracts
Medical equipment servicing contracts for care homes and hospitals, covering beds, hoists, baths, chairs and trolleys. No minimums, UK-wide.
Find out moreAsset Tagging & Reporting
Barcode asset tagging for care and hospital equipment, with location records, service history and electronic reports after every visit.
Find out moreFAQs
LOLER inspection FAQs
How often does a hoist need a LOLER inspection?
Equipment used for lifting people, including mobile, ceiling and bath hoists, stand aids and their slings, must be thoroughly examined at least every six months under LOLER 1998, unless a competent person has drawn up a written scheme of examination with different intervals. Most organisations also have each hoist serviced annually.
Do slings need a LOLER inspection too?
Yes. Slings are lifting accessories, so they need a thorough examination at least every six months as well. Because slings wear quickly with use and laundering, staff should also check them visually before every use.
What's the difference between a LOLER inspection and a hoist service?
A LOLER thorough examination is a legally required safety inspection that results in a written report. A service is preventive maintenance such as cleaning, lubrication, adjustment and replacing worn parts. They're different jobs, but we usually carry them out on the same visit to save you time and disruption.
What happens if a hoist fails its inspection?
We tell you straight away and label the item so staff know not to use it. If there's a risk of serious injury, LOLER requires us to report it to the enforcing authority as well. You'll receive a clear quote for the repair, and because our engineers carry spare parts, many faults can be fixed on the same visit.
Can you inspect hoists you didn't supply?
Yes. We examine and service hoists, stand aids and slings from all major manufacturers, whoever supplied them.
How much does a LOLER inspection cost?
LOLER thorough examinations start from £45 + VAT per hoist, and slings from £10 + VAT each. The exact price depends on how many items you have and whether we combine the examination with servicing on the same visit. There's no minimum number of items, and you'll get a clear, itemised quote first.
Is there such a thing as a LOLER certificate?
LOLER calls it a report of thorough examination rather than a certificate. Schedule 1 of the Regulations lists what it must include, such as the equipment's identity and safe working load, any defects, the date of the next examination and who carried it out. We issue one for every hoist and sling.
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.