Hi, Lee Atterbury again here, your Servicing Co-ordinator here at Hcsuk.
I’ve written another article regarding equipment servicing and compliance, which I hope will be valuable to you.
Many people are aware that moving and handling equipment has to be serviced and maintained, and that any lifting equipment must adhere to LOLER regulations, ( Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) but what about accessories for lifting, such as slings?
LOLER is a set of regulations applying to all lifting equipment and lifting operations in the workplace – regardless if it is patient lifting equipment or not, and patient lifting slings must also adhere to these regulations, as they play an integral role in the patient lifting process.
There are two important definitions to consider when thinking about LOLER compliance, in accordance with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
- Lifting equipment – means work equipment for lifting and lowering loads.
- Accessory for lifting – means lifting equipment for attaching loads to machinery for lifting
You can download our latest free guide to Essential Best Practice and Industry Requirements for the servicing and maintenance of your care equipment here for more information on your responsibilities under LOLER regulations here.
The HSE goes on to state that ‘Accessories for lifting must be thoroughly examined either at least every six months or in accordance with an examination scheme’, and that ‘you must ensure lifting equipment (including lifting accessories) exposed to conditions causing deterioration which could lead to dangerous situations undergoes regular thorough examination by a competent person’.
Our Field Service Engineer Phil regularly inspects patient lifting slings on a six-monthly basis and incorporates these inspections as he services & LOLER tests lifting equipment at your premises. Providing you with LOLER certification for your equipment and lifting slings simultaneously, you can rest assured we are keeping your family members safe and your care equipment legally compliant.
Phil thoroughly inspects each sling in accordance with the following criteria:
- Full legibility of manufacturers name, washing instructions, safe working load and serial number
- Stitching Breakdown
- Tape Fraying & Wear
- Fabric Thinning
- Fabric Stress
- Fabric Fading
- Soiling
Phil will then issue you with a full and detailed inspection report for your records, providing each sling has passed inspection.
There are common reasons why slings routinely fail their inspections, and Phil has written a helpful article below, with more detail and his tips on how to extend the life of your slings.
http://hcsuk.co.uk/news/why-has-my-hoist-sling-failed-its-inspection/
Also, we know that slings failing due to faded labelling can be a real frustration for care providers, if this has ever happened to you, you might also find the following blog helpful:
Here’s a quick recap of LOLER and exactly what is covered by these regulations.
What Is LOLER? (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations)
- LOLER is a set of regulations applying to all lifting equipment and lifting operations in the workplace – regardless if it is patient lifting equipment or not
- LOLER is administered by the Health and Safety Executive
- LOLER came into force in the UK in 1998 and revised in 2014
Who Does LOLER Affect?
As a care provider, you are legally obliged to comply with LOLER regulations.
As a service provider, our engineers have a responsibility for ensuring equipment is safe to use for a minimum of 6 months.
Typical equipment covered by LOLER:
- Lifting Hoists (Mobile)
- Lifting Hoists (Fixed / Ceiling)
- Stand Assists
- Bath Hoists / Bath Lifts
- Patient Slings
- Lifting Platforms
Our engineer Phil works in a safe, courteous, and conscientious manner at all times, and prides himself on the level of service and inspection he provides, with the safety and comfort of your family member at the forefront of his mind at all times.
But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what one of our happy customers had to say about Phil:
“We’ve built a strong working relationship with HCSUK over many years, having used them to source, install and service our medical training equipment. We have always found the team very professional, helpful, and well-organised. We’d like to give a particular shout out to Phil, the technician/engineer who has been the consistent friendly face visiting our business to inspect and test our mobility hoists every 6 months. Thank you for all your support and advice.” Peter B (Care Manager)
If you have any questions regarding patient sling inspections, or would like us to inspect your slings for you, in addition to any patient lifting equipment you have, please call us today on 01773 713713 or email us at servicing@hcsuk.co.uk
We’d love to hear from you.
For more information on how we could help you with a full servicing and maintenance package for your care home, you can download our free servicing guide: Creating Safer Environments in Care Homes here https://blog.hcsuk.co.uk/helping-you-to-create-safer-care-environments-guide
