As a care home manager, you carry a vital responsibility: keeping both residents and staff safe. A key part of that responsibility is ensuring your lifting equipment meets legal safety standards under LOLER.

Only a “competent person” can legally carry out a LOLER test. This means someone with the right training, experience, and independence to properly assess lifting equipment and identify risks.

In this guide, we explain exactly who qualifies as a competent person, whether care home staff can carry out inspections, and when you should use an external LOLER specialist.

What Is a “Competent Person” Under LOLER?

LOLER does not require a specific qualification, but it does require that inspections are carried out by a competent person.

This means someone who:

  • Has practical and theoretical knowledge of lifting equipment
  • Can identify defects and assess their risk
  • Understands relevant regulations and manufacturer guidance
  • Is independent enough to make impartial decisions

In practice, this is usually a trained LOLER engineer or specialist inspection provider.

If you need a quick answer or have equipment due soon, speak to a specialist now.

📞 Call 01953 885661

Can You Carry Out a LOLER Test Yourself?

Yes, a care home can carry out LOLER inspections internally—but only if the person doing the inspection meets the full definition of a competent person.

That means someone who:

  • Understands how the equipment works in real-world use
  • Has the training and experience to identify faults and risks
  • Is independent from the routine use and maintenance of the equipment

In most care homes, staff both use and maintain the same equipment. That makes true independence difficult to demonstrate and, in many cases, not legally acceptable.

Because of this, many care homes choose an external LOLER specialist. It is usually the simplest way to ensure inspections are impartial, compliant, and fully documented.

Who Should Perform a LOLER Inspection?

A LOLER inspection should be carried out by someone qualified, experienced, and impartial. Depending on your setup, that could include:

  • Independent LOLER engineers
  • Specialist LOLER inspection providers
  • Insurance inspection engineers
  • In-house technicians, but only if they meet competency and independence requirements

A proper LOLER inspection involves more than spotting obvious damage. A competent person will assess structural integrity, review maintenance records, compare the equipment against manufacturer guidance, and carry out load testing where required.

They should then issue a formal report and certificate, which you must keep on file in case the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asks for evidence of compliance.

Why Most Care Homes Use External LOLER Specialists

Even when internal testing is technically possible, most care homes choose external providers for one simple reason: confidence.

An external specialist removes doubt around independence, ensures inspections are carried out to the right standard, and gives you clear documentation if you are ever audited.

If you are unsure whether your current setup would stand up to inspection, it is worth getting a second opinion.

📞 Speak to a LOLER Specialist

Why Care Homes Choose Able for LOLER Testing

Once you understand who can carry out a LOLER test, the next step is choosing the right partner. At Able, we have supported care homes for over 25 years with compliant, reliable equipment testing.

We specialise in the care sector, so our engineers understand your environment, your equipment, and the pressures you are under.

With Able, you get:

  • Experienced engineers familiar with care home settings
  • Clear advice on faults, risks, and next steps
  • Full load testing to confirm safe working limits
  • Access to certified parts where required
  • Clear, compliant LOLER certification
  • Asset tracking and visibility of future inspections

We test a wide range of equipment, including hoists, slings, baths, pressure care systems, pool lifts, and specialist seating.

Final Thoughts: Keep Compliance Simple

While internal testing is possible in theory, most care homes cannot fully meet the independence and competency requirements in practice.

Using a qualified external LOLER specialist is the safest and simplest way to ensure compliance, reduce risk, and protect both residents and staff.

IF you would like us to assess your current setup, send us your details below.

👉 Request LOLER Compliance Review

LOLER Test FAQ’s

It’s possible, but rare. Staff must be both trained and independent from daily use. That’s why most managers choose impartial experts for safety.

Every six months for resident-handling equipment like hoists and slings. Missing this deadline could put you at risk of non-compliance.

A full safety check, load test, and issue of a compliance certificate. The right partner makes the process quick and stress-free.

It guarantees impartiality, expert advice, and peace of mind. With external certification, you’ll always be ready for HSE checks.

Hoists, slings, specialist baths, rise-and-recline chairs, and more. If it lifts or supports a resident, it likely needs testing.