Dr Melanie Wroth MB BS, FRACP
Chief Clinical Advisor

This alert is in response to a recent Coronial report from Tasmania where an aged care resident was severely injured and subsequently died from a fall due to hoist failure.

I would like to remind providers of their obligations to ensure there is clear oversight for maintenance checking and servicing of equipment used in aged care.

Records of maintenance schedules should be kept for all equipment. It should also be clear who is responsible to monitor checking dates, arrange for checking/servicing of equipment according to manufacturer recommendations, scheduling technician visits, and ensuring that follow up actions occur.

Specific use limitations must also be adhered to e.g. weight or load limits.

Read More:

Clinical Alerts: The importance of preventing equipment failures