When it comes to patient safety, nothing can be left to chance. Every day, healthcare facilities rely on critical equipment including patient hoists, electric profiling beds, mobility aids, trolleys, sterilisation units to deliver safe, effective care. But when these assets aren’t inspected, maintained, or operated in line with the law, the results can be catastrophic.
In the UK, two key sets of regulations are designed to protect both patients and staff. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) cover equipment used for lifting, while the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply to the wider range of tools and machines used in healthcare.
Together, they form a legal safety net. If you operate lifting or work equipment in a healthcare setting, compliance isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a legal duty.
Healthcare Equipment Non-Compliance: When Patients Pay the Price
History shows that when LOLER and PUWER regulations aren’t followed, people get hurt. In one harrowing case, a patient fell from a hoist and was impaled on an uncovered pole. An investigation revealed basic protective measures had been ignored, and the NHS trust involved was fined £1 million. This was no freak accident and was deemed to be entirely preventable.
In another incident, a patient was asphyxiated due to improper use of an electric profiling bed and side rails. PUWER requires clear risk assessments, regular checks, and safe operation. None of these were adequately in place. The human cost was irreversible, and the organisational cost was severe.
These examples are a stark reminder that behind every regulation is a person whose safety depends on it.
The Hidden Risk in Paper-Based Compliance
In busy hospitals and care homes, inspection logs are often kept on paper forms, isolated spreadsheets, or scattered emails. While this might seem manageable, it’s actually a breeding ground for risk.
Paperwork gets lost, inspections get delayed and fault reports may not reach the right person quickly enough. With multiple wards, hundreds of devices, and staff working across shifts, the chances of something slipping through the cracks are high. And in healthcare, a single missed inspection can be the difference between a safe lift and a serious injury.
Healthcare Equipment Compliance That Protects Lives
LOLER and PUWER compliance in healthcare isn’t about keeping paperwork, it’s about protecting patients, safeguarding staff, and ensuring the equipment you rely on every day is always safe to use.
The law is clear. The risks are real. And the tools to stay compliant are here.
Motion Kinetic helps move from reactive, paper-heavy compliance to a proactive, digital system that works seamlessly in the background. This enables establishments to focus on what really matters: delivering outstanding patient care. Get in touch to discuss your healthcare equipment inspection and compliance needs.