Slings Wear & Tear
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5 Ruse Street Osborne Park Western Australia 6017 Quality Endorsed Company Information Sheet: Slings – Wear & Tear Slings, like any other product made from material, will deteriorate over time, just like a shirt, jeans or chair fabric. Not only do Slings suffer wear and tear during use, but they always deteriorate during the washing process where they are under great stress in the washing machine. We recommend air-drying the Slings in the shade to prolong their life. If the Slings need to be tumble dried, we recommend tumble drying on a cool setting. A tumble dryer on a hot setting can make the drum so hot that the nylon material may be damaged. If you do tumble dry on a cool setting ensure the drum of the machine is also cool, because if the material touches a hot drum it may still be damaged. When a Sling is used to lift someone, it is vital that it is safe to use. We recommend that a safety check should be done before each lift, and this should be carried out by the people who are involved in the lift. Look for any fraying or torn material or webbing. Check the stitching of the webbing that makes the separate loops. The Sling fabric can get caught in a washing machine at the top of the drum or under the agitator. We also make a large Washing Bag that holds the Sling and the webbing straps to help prevent the sling material or webbing getting caught in the machine. We recommend removing any damaged Slings from use to ensure they cannot be used, and contact Pelican. Pelican offers an Inspection and Repair Service for most brands of slings, so you may need to send them to us to be sure the Sling is safe for repair. It is possible that slings may be used thousands of times during their life. The table below outlines common sling usage: Time of day Early Morning Early Morning Early Morning Early Morning Morning Morning Late Morning Late Morning Late Morning Lunchtime Lunchtime Late Afternoon Late Afternoon Late Afternoon Early Evening Early Evening Early Evening Early Evening Transfer Bed to wheelchair Wheelchair to toilet Toilet to shower chair Shower chair to wheelchair Assuming breakfast is had in wheelchair Wheelchair to lounge chair Lounge chair to wheelchair Wheelchair to toilet Toilet to wheelchair Assuming lunch is had in wheelchair Wheelchair to lounge chair Lounge chair to wheelchair Wheelchair to toilet Toilet to wheelchair Assuming dinner is had in wheelchair Wheelchair to toilet Toilet to wheelchair Wheelchair to bed TOTAL = 105 lifts per week = 5,460 lifts per year = 27,300 lifts every 5 years = 54,600 lifts every 10 years Check for rough or sharp surfaces Sometimes we repair Slings where the webbing straps which hook on to the lifter have frayed a lot and become ‘fluffy’. This is almost always caused by a rough surface where the strap hooks on to the lifter. It is best to run your finger over the area where the webbing strap hooks on to, as there may be a small sharp metal edge or rough patch which is causing the damage. If there is any foam or plastic shaping on the hanger bar, these can often have a ridge where the plastic has been shaped, which can also be sharp. Sling material may start to deteriorate over time. In the past we have also seen damage to Slings caused deliberately by residents with dementia. General wear and tear may include small laddering in the material, or the Sling may be fraying in some areas. Although small amounts of laddering and fraying may be visible, this might not necessarily mean the sling needs to be replaced. Facilities should be familiar with the amount of general wear and tear which is acceptable and safe, and can contact Pelican if there is concern. Large amounts of laddering and fraying may be a sign that the Sling is coming to the end of its useful life, and should be replaced. Pelican offers a Sling Inspection & Repair Service.

We suggest that all Carers are told that if there is an accident with any Sling or Hoist that causes death, they would be cross-questioned by a solicitor in the Coroner’s court. This can be a very stressful time and causes a lot of heartache for everyone involved. The life expectancy of a Sling can vary from one patient to another. Some patients may be incontinent and soil their Sling so it will need washing perhaps a few times a day. Another patient may never soil their Sling so it may not be washed for months. Washing normally damages the Sling more than lifting. Sometimes the Nursing...