If your care home uses hoists, you’re already familiar with LOLER hoist testing. You know it’s required by law. You probably already have a contractor performing it. But are they actually testing the safe working load?

In many cases, the answer is no.

Most LOLER tests involve visual inspections, basic function checks, and paperwork. What they often leave out is a full safe working load (SWL) test, meaning the hoist may never actually be lifted to the weight it’s rated for.

That’s where the risk begins.

If you’re unsure what your current provider actually includes, we can help you review your process.

đź“ž Call 01953 885661

What Is LOLER and What Does It Actually Cover?

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) requires that hoists and lifting equipment used in care settings are thoroughly examined every six months by a competent person. The purpose is simple: to help keep residents and staff safe.

These inspections typically include:

  • Checking for wear and tear
  • Reviewing documentation and labelling
  • Verifying the equipment’s general condition
  • Ensuring controls and emergency stop functions work

However, LOLER does not require a hoist to be tested at its full safe working load unless there is reason to suspect a fault, or unless the care home specifically requests it.

So while your hoist may pass its LOLER inspection, it may not have actually lifted its rated capacity in months.

What Is a Safe Working Load (SWL), and Why Does It Matter?

The safe working load is the maximum weight a hoist is designed to lift safely. In care homes, that is often between 150kg and 180kg, although bariatric models may be rated for more.

If you do not test equipment to its full SWL:

  • You do not know whether the lift motor is weakening over time
  • You cannot confirm that the spreader bar and frame still perform properly under full stress
  • You may be exposing staff and residents to avoidable risk during transfers

Testing to full SWL is not just about compliance. It is about knowing the equipment will perform when it is needed most.

If you want a second opinion on whether your current testing standard is enough, our team can talk it through with you.

đź“ž Call 01953 885661

The Problem with Most LOLER Tests

Most contractors provide legally compliant LOLER inspections, but very few include actual load testing. Fewer still test hoists to full capacity using calibrated weights.

Why is that?

  • It takes more time
  • It requires specialist weights and trained engineers
  • It is not automatically required under LOLER

But that is exactly the issue. Just because it is not always required does not mean it is not important.

A certificate can tell you the inspection was completed. It does not always tell you whether the hoist has genuinely been tested under realistic load conditions.

If you have a recent certificate and want help understanding what it does and does not show, we can review it with you.

👉 Request a LOLER Certificate Review

What Makes Able’s LOLER Hoist Testing Different

At Able, we go beyond the minimum compliance requirement. Our LOLER hoist testing can include:

  • Full inspection of lifting equipment and accessories
  • Testing to full safe working load (up to 180kg)
  • Clear pass/fail documentation for audit purposes
  • Advice on replacing slings or worn components
  • Access to a wide range of spare parts and frequent same-day repairs

Because slings are classed as lifting accessories under LOLER, they must also undergo regular thorough examination. Our guide to LOLER sling inspections in care homes explains what inspectors check, how often slings should be examined, and how to avoid common compliance issues.

This gives care homes more than a certificate for the file. It gives a clearer picture of whether lifting equipment is genuinely safe, serviceable, and audit-ready. You can see more about our LOLER servicing and testing support here.

How Often Should You Test to Full Load?

LOLER requires thorough examination every six months, but SWL testing is not mandated on that same schedule. Even so, full-load testing is often a sensible additional step.

We typically recommend testing to full load:

  • At least annually, especially for frequently used hoists
  • Immediately after repairs or reassembly
  • Before first use of new equipment

You would not want to transfer a resident without confidence in the equipment. Your testing process should reflect that.

Compliance Is the Floor, Not the Ceiling

LOLER testing is a legal requirement, but legal minimums should not be the only benchmark. Real safety goes beyond paperwork. It means knowing your hoists can do what they are supposed to do, under the loads they are supposed to handle.

By choosing a more robust testing approach, you help protect your staff, your residents, and your reputation.

If you want to review whether your current provider includes meaningful SWL testing, we can help you assess it.

👉 Request a LOLER Review

Care Home LOLER Hoist Testing FAQ’s

Not by default. Visual and functional checks are mandatory; SWL testing is only triggered if there’s doubt—or if you request it.

Because a hoist can pass paperwork and still struggle under real weight. An SWL test proves the motor, frame and spreader bar can lift the rated load safely.

Aim for annually as best practice, plus after repairs, after reassembly, and before first use of new equipment.

Use calibrated test weights up to the hoist’s rated capacity—typically 150–180 kg for standard units (higher for bariatric models).

The exact load applied, pass/fail outcome, any advisories (e.g., sling label unreadable), engineer competence details, and the next due date.

Yes—slings are lifting accessories under LOLER. Frayed stitching, damaged clips or missing labels can fail independently of the hoist.

We combine the statutory inspection with a full SWL test (up to 180 kg), issue clear evidence for audits, and can supply/fit parts the same day in many cases.