Hoist in Hospital: When Must Staff Use One and How Do You Use It Safely?

It is the start of a night shift on a medical ward in a Cork hospital, and a healthcare assistant is asked to get a patient out of bed and into a chair. The patient cannot bear their own weight, there is a hoist parked in the corridor, and a colleague is busy two bays away. Using a hoist in hospital is one of the clearest ways to take the load off staff, but only if the right hoist, sling and method are chosen every time. This guide explains what hoists are used in Irish hospitals, when one must be used, and what the law expects of the employer and the person operating it.

What Is a Hoist in Hospital Care and What Is It For?

A hoist in hospital is a mechanical lifting device used to raise, lower and transfer a patient who cannot safely move themselves, so that staff do not have to take the patient's body weight by hand. It replaces the highest-risk patient handling tasks, such as lifting a patient from bed to chair, from a chair to a commode, or from the floor after a fall. Under Irish manual handling law the first priority is to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, and a hoist is the standard way hospitals do that for dependent patients.

What Types of Hoist Are Used in Irish Hospitals?

Most hospital wards use a combination of the following, chosen by the patient's ability and the space available.

Mobile floor hoists run on wheels and use a sling to lift the patient from a bed, chair or the floor. They are the most common type on general wards. Ceiling track hoists run on a rail fixed to the ceiling and are common in intensive care, rehabilitation and long-stay units, because they need no floor space and no pushing. Standing aids, also called sit-to-stand hoists, support a patient who can bear some weight through their legs and are used for toileting and short transfers. Bath and shower hoists are used in assisted bathing areas. Each type has a marked safe working load, and the combined weight of the patient and sling must never exceed it.

When Must Staff Use a Hoist Instead of Lifting by Hand?

Staff should use a hoist whenever the patient assessment shows that the patient cannot take their own weight, or when a hand transfer would involve lifting a significant part of the patient's weight. This follows from the manual handling provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, which require the employer to avoid hazardous manual handling where possible and otherwise to assess the risk using the factors in Schedule 3: the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability. A patient is an unpredictable load that can move, resist or fall, which is why most hospitals set a clear policy that dependent patients are never lifted manually.

Drag lifts under the armpits and manual lifts from the floor are widely regarded as unsafe for both patient and staff. After a fall, check for injury first, then use a hoist or purpose-designed floor lifting device.

How Do You Use a Hoist Safely, Step by Step?

The exact method depends on the manufacturer's instructions and the hospital's own procedure, but safe hoisting follows the same pattern everywhere. First, check the patient's handling plan and confirm the correct sling type and size. Check that the hoist and sling are in good condition, that the sling has not passed its inspection date, and that the safe working load is suitable. Explain to the patient what is going to happen, clear the space, and apply the brakes on the bed or chair before positioning the sling.

Attach the sling loops to the hanger bar as shown for that sling, making sure both sides are equal. Lift slowly, keeping the patient in view, then move the hoist at a steady pace. Lower the patient into position and remove the sling only if the plan says it is safe. Two trained staff are normally used for a mobile hoist, one to operate and one to guide and reassure the patient, unless the risk assessment says otherwise.

What Does Irish Law Require of the Hospital and the Staff Member?

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the employer must provide safe equipment and give employees the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to use it. In practice this means hoists must be maintained and thoroughly examined by a competent person at the intervals required for lifting equipment, with records kept. Slings are normally checked as part of that process and must be removed from use if damaged or worn.

Staff also have duties. Employees must use equipment as they were trained to use it, must not use a hoist they have not been trained on, and must report defects and near misses. The HSA expects patient handling risks to be covered by individual patient handling assessments, so that each patient has a documented plan stating which equipment and how many staff are needed.

Does Online Training Cover Hoist Use?

Online manual handling training covers the legal framework, Schedule 3 risk factors, risk assessment and the principles of safer patient handling, which is the theory every healthcare worker needs. Competence on a specific hoist, however, has to be demonstrated on the actual equipment used in your workplace, usually by a ward trainer or the manufacturer's representative. A good employer treats the two as complementary: theory training for understanding the law and the risks, and local hands-on sign-off for each type of hoist and sling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hoist always required to move a patient in an Irish hospital?

No. A hoist is required when the patient cannot bear their own weight or when a hand transfer would involve lifting a significant part of their weight. The patient handling assessment decides this for each person, and it should be recorded in their care plan.

How many staff are needed to use a hoist?

Two trained staff are the usual standard for a mobile hoist, one operating and one supporting the patient. The individual handling plan can specify a different number depending on the patient, the equipment and the environment.

Can a healthcare assistant use a hoist without training?

No. Irish employers must make sure staff are trained and competent before they use lifting equipment, and employees must not use equipment they have not been trained on. Training should include the specific hoist and sling types used on the ward.

How often must a patient hoist be inspected?

A hoist used to lift people must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals set out in the Irish work equipment regulations, and serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions. Slings should be checked before each use and as part of the periodic inspection.