Why regular patient hoist maintenance is essential for long-term reliability
Ensuring the safety and reliability of lifting equipment is essential in healthcare, education, hospitals, nursing homes, and at home where specialist care equipment is used. Patient hoist maintenance plays a critical role in keeping these essential pieces of equipment operational, reducing the risk of failure, injury, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
A well-maintained hoist ensures the safety of both users and caregivers. Without regular professional servicing, there is a risk that the equipment can develop faults that compromise functionality, leading to breakdowns and potential injury. Routine patient hoist maintenance helps to identify wear and tear early, preventing costly repairs and prolonging the lifespan of the equipment making sure that is it safe, operational, and fit for purpose.
Understanding LOLER regulations and requirements
Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1988 (LOLER), all lifting equipment used for patient handling must undergo regular inspections. LOLER inspections must be carried out by a qualified professional at least every six months. These inspections involve performing a maximum load test of the equipment. You can get a full breakdown of equipment that requires a LOLER test and what is involved here. However, patient hoist maintenance goes beyond LOLER testing. A full service ensures all mechanical and electrical components are in good working order.
How often should a patient hoist be serviced?
In addition to the six-monthly LOLER inspections, a full patient hoist maintenance service is recommended at least once a year. Regular servicing includes functional testing, lubrication of moving parts, and battery checks for powered hoists. As a result of regular servicing, minor issues can be addressed early preventing unexpected breakdowns that could leave users without essential support. It’s also worth highlighting that all slings used with mobile hoists and ceiling hoists should be well-maintained and serviced, including 6 monthly LOLER inspections.
The benefits of regular moving and handling equipment and patient hoist maintenance
Creating a planned patient hoist maintenance and servicing schedule ensures equipment is in good working condition. It also helps avoid unexpected breakdowns that could impact the quality of care provided to patients and individuals with mobility challenges.
For many users, hoists are a vital part of daily life. If a hoist fails, it can leave individuals stranded and dependent on emergency assistance. This underscores the importance of regular patient hoist maintenance to prevent malfunctions and ensure continuous support for those who need it the most.
A few benefits of regular servicing include:
- Safety – ensuring the hoist operates correctly and reducing the risk of accidents to patients and caregivers
- Reliability – reducing unexpected downtime and emergency repairs
- Cost Savings – preventing unexpected and expensive breakdowns by catching issues early
- Compliance – ensuring that legal safety and regulatory requirements are adhered to
What is included in a patient hoist maintenance and servicing appointment?
A comprehensive patient hoist maintenance appointment typically includes:
- Thorough visual and physical inspections of lifting mechanisms for wear and tear
- Checking electrical and mechanical components for faults
- Lubrication of moving parts to ensure smooth operation
- Functional testing of emergency stop features
- Battery and charging system checks to prevent power failures
- Maximum load test in accordance with LOLER regulations
- Recording all findings and ensuring the equipment is marked with the maximum intended load and serviced date
How to Book a Service
At Multicare Medical we offer expert patient hoist maintenance and servicing ensuring your equipment remains safe and reliable. Regardless of who installed your equipment, our experienced team of engineers can conduct thorough maintenance. We can help and ensure your equipment is safe and compliant. Read about our 12-point servicing and maintenance program here.
Since 1988, we have been “Helping you deliver better healthcare” by providing high-quality specialist moving and handling equipment and servicing solutions. As a result of our expertise in patient hoist maintenance, we can help extend the lifespan of your equipment while ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
To book a service, call 0800 298 6000, email [email protected] or submit a request here.
What others say about our hoist servicing and maintenance
“Greg Marshall, the engineer who attended our property today was exceptional. He stated that his job was to work out what was wrong with the equipment before stating that new parts are needed. He worked out how to fix a ceiling track hoist!”
