Like any piece of equipment, your mobility hoist should regularly be checked to ensure it is in the best condition possible.
But how often should your mobility hoist actually be inspected?
Why Your Mobility Hoist Should Be Inspected
A mobility hoist needs to be inspected to ensure it remains safe to operate.
Given the importance of this equipment, and the reliance for it to support the partial or full weight of its user, it’s vital that the equipment is maintained.
A qualified technician will know what to look for when inspecting the equipment, but some of the areas for attention will include:
- Wall fixings – on permanent mobility hoists, ensure the fixings to keep it in position are secure and have not moved
- Joints – areas such as hinge joints should be checked for fatigue, alignment and lubrication if applicable
- Cables – check cables for signs of heavy wear
- Handles – are the handles worn, lacking grip or cracked? They should be inspected to check for this
- Brakes – on mobile hoists, ensure safety provisions such as brakes are working so that the hoist stays securely in position when in use
How Often Should An Inspections Happen?
The first time your mobility hoist should be inspected is immediately following its installation.
Even when the equipment is brand new, it will need to be checked by a professional to ensure everything is set up safely and securely as required.
Often, the company who has installed your mobility hoist will be the ones to inspect it, but it also pays to give it a look over yourself.
Moving forwards, when in use a hoist should be properly inspected every 12 months at least.
This will allow the equipment to be analysed for wear and tear and any small maintenance jobs be performed as required.
The inspection should also include a load test, as per the guidelines set out by the standard for hoists for the transfer of disabled persons. T
he hoist should be tested to the maximum load capacity at least every 12 months.
Other Scenarios When An Inspection Is Required
In addition to the inspection of a newly installed hoist and the on-going annual checks, there are other scenarios in which a mobility hoist will need to be inspected.
These are as follows:
- Accidents – If the hoist has been involved in an accident or incident in which damage has been caused, you should get it professionally inspected once again. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, no matter how minor the damage may appear to be
- Movement – If the hoist has been moved from one position to another, then it should again be inspected after installation in its new location. This is to ensure that not only is everything set-up correctly and securely again, but that all of the fittings and features remain usable and fitting as they should
- In line with warranty/guarantee – It’s important to be aware of any conditions of your warranty or guarantee that came with your mobility hoist. For example, inspection and servicing periods may exist and need to be adhered to