How Often Should a Hoist Be Serviced? | HCSUK & Able

Updated August 2025

Caring for residents safely means keeping every piece of lifting equipment in top condition. A question our servicing team often hears is: how often should my home complete a LOLER hoist inspection? The answer is simple, but it carries huge importance for care homes that want to stay compliant, protect residents, and avoid problems during inspections.

How Often Should a Hoist Be Serviced and Inspected?

Under the LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), every patient hoist and lifting accessory must undergo a thorough examination every six months. This is not optional. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requires care providers to follow this schedule to make sure equipment is safe for residents and staff.

So, when you ask how often should a hoist be serviced, the answer has two parts:

• Thorough examination: Every 6 months, carried out by a competent person.

• Full service: Every 12 months, carried out by a trained engineer to keep the hoist working smoothly and extend its lifespan.

This clear schedule means hoists are always safe and reliable, while care homes have the paperwork to prove compliance.

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What Does LOLER Require?

LOLER applies to all lifting equipment used at work, whether for people or objects. For care homes, that means hoists, stand aids, stand assists, and all related lifting accessories, such as slings.

Each hoist must be:

1. Examined after assembly or installation – before its first use.

2. Inspected every 6 months – once in service.

3. Recorded in a LOLER log – with the date, outcome, and examiner’s details.

The regulations also state that slings and other lifting accessories must be inspected on the same six-monthly schedule. Skipping sling inspections is one of the most common mistakes care homes make, and it often results in non-compliance during CQC checks.

For full details and support with LOLER hoist inspections, you can learn more with Able here.

What Is a ‘Thorough Examination’?

The HSE defines a thorough examination as a systematic and detailed inspection of the hoist and its safety-critical parts. A competent person must complete the inspection and issue a written report.

The report must include:

• The date of the examination

• The date of the next required examination

• Any defects that could present a risk to people

If a serious defect is found, the competent person must immediately tell the duty holder and then submit a written report. This same report must also be sent to the enforcing authority.

Who Is the ‘Competent Person’?

LOLER does not give a strict legal definition, but the guidance is clear. The competent person must have:

• Practical and theoretical knowledge of hoists

• Experience detecting faults or weaknesses

• Independence and impartiality

In other words, the person must be skilled enough to judge whether equipment is safe and objective enough to give a fair assessment. Importantly, the person who carries out routine maintenance should not be the same person who completes LOLER inspections. That way, they are not assessing their own work.

What Happens During a Hoist Service?

While a LOLER hoist inspection is a legal requirement, a hoist service is more like a car service. It goes further than the inspection by making sure the equipment performs at its best and doesn’t deteriorate between checks.

A professional service will cover:

• Handset

• Actuator

• Control unit

• Battery

• Mains charging cable

• Electric and mechanical leg action

• Mast, boom, chassis

• Spreader bar

Each component is checked both visually and functionally. A written report is then provided to the duty holder so they can demonstrate compliance and plan future maintenance.

A full hoist service should take place at least once every year. Regular servicing not only improves safety but also extends the life of the equipment, saving care homes money in the long run.

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Why Does This Matter for Care Homes?

For care providers, LOLER hoist inspections are not just red tape. It is about ensuring staff can lift and move residents safely without risk of injury. It also helps protect vulnerable residents by keeping lifting equipment reliable.

CQC inspectors know LOLER is often overlooked. They will ask to see both hoist and sling inspection records, and they will want to know when the next checks are due. Homes that cannot show this evidence risk non-compliance notices, reputational damage, and in the worst cases, prosecution.

That is why care homes increasingly choose planned service packages. With scheduled inspections, automatic reminders, and full reporting, managers never need to worry about missing deadlines.

If you would like to streamline compliance, get in touch with Able here to see how simple LOLER servicing can be.

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Final Thoughts

So, how often should a hoist be serviced? The rule is clear: a thorough LOLER hoist inspection every six months and a comprehensive service every twelve months. Following this schedule keeps care homes compliant, residents safe, and equipment in good working order.

For full support with LOLER hoist inspections, sling testing, and service packages, see how Able can help today.

Our partners at Able are experts in all things healthcare equipment. If you’re interested in better understanding your care home equipment responsibilities, book a free consultation below.