Unsafe Mechanical Lifts
Posted by Kim on May 15th, 2008 / 
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Up in Canada an investigation is under way. A nursing home resident died as a result of a fall, out of a mechanical lift.
The faulty lift equipment that caused the death of an east Toronto nursing home resident had already malfunctioned twice within the same long-term care chain, according to a health ministry document obtained by the Star.
Leisureworld Caregiving Centres documented the two earlier incidents when the same type of lift broke down at another home in its chain, last November and December, according to the ministry’s May 8 letter to Health Canada, warning of safety hazards. The letter said there were no injuries as a result of the first two malfunctions.
It was not until Wally Baker’s April 30 death that Leisureworld replaced the lifts (motorized equipment used to move residents from bed to chair to toilet) throughout its 26 homes in Ontario. But chief executive officer David Cutler said the company took action to address the problems last November and December, including contacting Health Canada, which monitors nursing home equipment.
Wow. Pardon me for a moment here. I have worked with all kinds of mechanical lifts, of every variety and made by most manufacturers. Some are better than others; some are easier to use. None ever presented a hazard to my residents though, as long as I used the equipment correctly. We were trained by the manufacturers on how to use each lift, through the years, as we got them. I really don’t understand how this happened.
Has anyone ever experienced a close call with a lift? Was it the lift itself, the staff using it improperly a (lack of training on the proper use)? Was it the resident being unsafe and jeopardizing the transfer? I’ve seen that happen many times as well.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Not with A hoyer lift but I have with a stand lift. In that case it was the resident making it difficult. Even when strapped in properly, he still managed to move his feet and try to walk off. He almost slid out. He had good strength in his legs though. The only reason he was on the lift was not that he wasn’t strong enough to stand, but because he would buckle his legs when being transferred. The stand lift seems like it could be easier to have an accident with, since the patients are generally stronger.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
It happened to me years ago Kim. Well not me personally but I saw a resident fall out of a sling. I was working agency at the time and a house aide needed a spotter for the transfer. She had the sling under the resident and attached to the hoyer…she cranked it up (it was the old fashioned style) and we got him off the bed and swung his feet out, moved the hoyer and I heard the seams RIP open from under. Down he went.
The stitching came apart on the section that attaches to the lower clamp/clips. The man fell and fell hard, broke his shoulder and hip.
So now I always check the slings to make sure they’re not wearing out or that the seams are coming loose. It happens a lot too! These things don’t last forever!
May 16th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I’ve seen problems with the slings too- worn out and being used in spite of. Also, using the wrong size sling can create real safety problems.
I agree that the sit-to-stand machines are much more a problem. Residents must be assessed for their safety awareness when using these; people with dementia are prime candidates for accidents.
The other times I have seen accidents are all when staff messed up; they didn’t properly attach the sling to the hoyer.
Each accident, or NEAR accident, should be investigated and lessons learned. And shared with all so we don’t have repeats.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:56 am
We had a consumer die as a result of injuries he received in a fall from a Hoyer at the group home I work in. The staff was not trained and dropped the guy. He hit his head and passed on after a few days in the hospital.
We now have a policy that everyone is to be trained in transfers and it’s always a two person transfer with a Hoyer. No exceptions. If it is violated, it means termination.
Personally, I have no problem with the policy, but the consumers do. When we are short staffed, they have to wait several hours for a second employee to become available for a Hoyer transfer. They get VERY upset, but I have to just remain calm and explain the policy to them.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Chris most facilities have this policy. Do you think it helps? Two aides can prevent a machine from malfunctioning? What if the resident is very heavy and falls? Do the aides get into trouble for not preventing the fall? How can they do that? Without hurting themselves, I mean? I think this 2 staff thing is a joke and provides a false sense of security.