Checklist · Community & Home Care
Patient Lifting Hoist Pre-Use Inspection Checklist
Pre-use check for mobile (floor) and ceiling track patient hoists used in client homes, residential care and community settings. Covers the sling, labels and safe working load, battery, emergency lowering, brakes, controls and the service tag.
40 checklist items · Last reviewed
Checklist Items
| Item | Pass / Yes | Fail / No |
|---|---|---|
| HOIST & CLIENT DETAILS | ||
| Date | ||
| Client / Location | ||
| Hoist Type (mobile floor hoist / ceiling track / standing hoist) | ||
| Hoist Make, Model and Asset / Serial Number | ||
| Hoist Safe Working Load (kg) | ||
| Client Weight (kg, from care plan) | ||
| Sling Type and Size Specified in the Client’s Mobility Plan | ||
| Inspected By | ||
| LABELS & SERVICE | ||
| Safe working load (SWL) label present and legible on the hoist | Pass | Fail |
| Client weight is within the SWL of both the hoist and the sling | Pass | Fail |
| Service / inspection tag present and within its due date | Pass | Fail |
| Manufacturer’s instructions available for this hoist | Pass | Fail |
| SLING | ||
| Sling is the type and size specified for this client | Pass | Fail |
| Sling is compatible with this hoist (per the manufacturer) | Pass | Fail |
| Sling label legible: size, SWL and laundering instructions | Pass | Fail |
| No fraying, cuts, holes, thinning, stains or discolouration | Pass | Fail |
| Stitching intact at straps, loops and seams | Pass | Fail |
| Loops, clips or keyhole fittings undamaged | Pass | Fail |
| Single-client sling used only for its labelled client (if applicable) | Pass | Fail |
| HOIST STRUCTURE (MOBILE HOIST) | ||
| Mast, boom and spreader bar free of cracks, bends or loose fittings | Pass | Fail |
| Spreader bar hooks or clips intact, with safety latches working | Pass | Fail |
| Legs open and close fully and lock in position | Pass | Fail |
| Castors roll freely; castor brakes hold | Pass | Fail |
| No loose, missing or damaged parts, covers or pins | Pass | Fail |
| CEILING TRACK HOIST | ||
| Track, end stops and fixings show no visible damage or movement | Pass | Fail |
| Lifting tape or strap free of fraying, cuts or twists | Pass | Fail |
| Motor unit travels smoothly along the full track | Pass | Fail |
| BATTERY & CONTROLS | ||
| Battery charged (indicator shows sufficient charge) | Pass | Fail |
| Hand control and cable undamaged; buttons clearly marked | Pass | Fail |
| Raises and lowers smoothly with no unusual noise (test without client) | Pass | Fail |
| Emergency stop works | Pass | Fail |
| Emergency lowering works (manual or electrical, tested per manufacturer) | Pass | Fail |
| THE TRANSFER | ||
| Number of carers required by the mobility plan are present | Pass | Fail |
| Path is clear and there is enough space around the bed, chair or toilet | Pass | Fail |
| Bed and wheelchair brakes applied before the transfer | Pass | Fail |
| Carers trained on this hoist model and sling | Pass | Fail |
| OUTCOME & SIGN-OFF | ||
| Faults found (describe) | ||
| Hoist or sling tagged out of service and reported | Yes | No |
| Reported to (supervisor / equipment provider) and time | ||
| Inspector Signature | ||
How to use this checklist
When to use it
Do this check before the first transfer of each shift or visit, and again if the hoist has been moved, dropped or used by someone else since. It does not replace the periodic service and inspection by a competent technician on the schedule set by the manufacturer and your organisation: confirm that tag is in date as part of the check. Test raising, lowering and emergency lowering without the client in the sling.
Who completes it
The carer or support worker doing the transfer, who must be trained on that hoist model and sling. Where the mobility plan calls for two carers, both should know the result before starting. Families and client-owned equipment are common in home care, so record whose hoist it is and who to report faults to.
If an item fails
A failed item means no transfer with that hoist or sling. Tag it out, tell your supervisor and the equipment owner, and use the client’s back-up plan (another hoist, a different sling, or rescheduling) rather than lifting the client by hand. Record the fault and who you reported it to.
Reference: Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace. Check with your state regulator for the version that applies to you.