Updated June 2025
Incorrectly fitted or poorly maintained bed rails can pose serious risks. Whether you're managing a care home, working in hospital settings, or supporting someone at home, ensuring bed rail safety is essential. That's why we’ve created a free downloadable bed rail guide — a simple tool that helps you measure, assess, and comply with essential safety standards.
Why You Need a Bed Rail Guide
Bed rails are designed to prevent falls, not cause them. Unfortunately, when measurements are incorrect — for example, if gaps are too wide or rails are poorly positioned — they can lead to entrapment, injury, or even death.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections increasingly focus on bed rail compliance. And with good reason. The MHRA and HSE both stress that bed rails must be checked regularly for compatibility, condition, and correct fitting.
That’s where our bed rail guide comes in. It gives you an instant, visual way to check key gaps and dimensions, reducing risk and supporting safety audits.
What’s Included in the Bed Rail Guide?
The downloadable guide is more than a ruler — it’s a compliance tool. Here’s what you get:
-
Printable bed rail ruler to check gaps between rails, mattress and side rails, and head/foot boards.
-
Quick safety checklist covering common hazards and recommended inspection points.
-
Clear instructions aligned with MHRA guidelines and IDDSI measurement principles.
-
Space for documentation, helping you keep records for CQC or internal audits.
This guide is ideal for carers, nurses, maintenance teams, and anyone involved in PUWER or LOLER inspections.
🛠️ Need support with equipment inspections? Our Able team can help you stay compliant.
How to Use the Bed Rail Guide
Using the guide is simple and effective:
-
Print the ruler at 100% scale on A4 paper.
-
Use it to measure the key gaps between:
-
Mattress and side rails
-
Bed rails and bed ends
-
Rail bars (horizontal and vertical)
-
-
Refer to the checklist to make sure your equipment meets recommended guidelines.
-
Take action if a measurement falls outside safe limits.
By incorporating these checks into your regular safety audits, you can drastically reduce risk and demonstrate good practice to regulators.
When to Measure Bed Rails
We recommend using the bed rail guide:
-
During routine safety audits
-
After bed maintenance or repair
-
When new residents move in
-
Any time new mattresses or beds are introduced
-
Before LOLER or PUWER inspections
Regular checks show a proactive approach to safety — one that's valued by inspectors and appreciated by families.
🛒 Need advice? Contact a friendly member of our team today!
Why Care Homes Trust HCSUK and Able
At HCSUK, we provide practical tools like this bed rail guide because we understand the pressures care homes face. From ensuring safety to meeting compliance, you're juggling a lot — and we’re here to help.
Working alongside Able, we offer:
-
Specialist fall prevention equipment
-
LOLER/PUWER inspections and servicing
-
Expert advice tailored to the care sector
We believe in giving care homes the tools to deliver safer, smarter care.
📩 Need tailored advice? Contact the friendly Able team today.
FAQs
Q1: Is the bed rail guide suitable for all types of beds?
Yes, the guide is designed to work with standard profiling beds, hospital beds, and many domestic care beds.
Q2: Does this replace formal inspections?
No. It’s a supporting tool that helps identify risks — not a substitute for professional LOLER or PUWER checks.
Q3: Can I reuse the printed guide?
Yes — laminate it or print multiple copies for use in audits, care plan folders, or equipment files.
Q4: What if I’m not sure if my bed rails are compliant?
Get in touch with Able — we’ll help you assess your needs and arrange inspections or equipment upgrades if necessary.
