Moving and Handling Equipment: Hoists and Slings Competency Training

General manual handling training covers the principles of moving people and objects safely, but hoisting someone who cannot bear their own weight is a distinct, higher-risk skill that deserves its own focus. A poorly fitted sling or a hoist used incorrectly doesn't just risk injury to staff — it can cause real harm to the person being moved, from bruising and skin damage to falls from the sling itself. This is one of the few care tasks where "we've always done it this way" genuinely isn't good enough if it isn't also the correct way.

Why Hoisting Deserves Dedicated Training

The Health and Safety Executive is clear that hoists and slings carry specific risks that generic manual handling training doesn't fully cover: choosing the wrong sling size, using incompatible sling and hoist combinations, and incorrect sling attachment are all documented causes of harm. A sling that's too small can cause discomfort or leave the person at risk of slipping through it; one that's too large increases the risk of the person sliding or falling sideways during the lift. Staff need training specific to the actual equipment used in their setting, not just a general certificate that covers hoisting in the abstract.

Getting the Sling Right for the Person

Every person who needs hoisting should have this documented clearly in their individual care plan: which hoist, which sling type and size, how many staff are required for the transfer, and any specific safety considerations such as skin fragility or a medical condition that affects positioning. HSE guidance is specific that slings should be attached using the same loop configuration on both sides, since mismatched attachment increases the risk of the person falling sideways during the lift. This isn't a detail to improvise in the moment — it should be established, documented, and followed consistently by every member of staff who might carry out that transfer.

Equipment Checks and LOLER Requirements

Hoists and slings are lifting equipment, and as such fall under LOLER — the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations — which requires regular thorough examination by a competent person, separate from routine day-to-day use. Slings in particular need to be uniquely identifiable so their inspection and maintenance history can be tracked, and HSE guidance specifically warns against methods that can weaken the sling fabric, such as writing on it with solvent-based markers or sewing labels directly into the webbing. Staff carrying out day-to-day use should also do a quick visual and functional check before each use — looking for fraying, damage, or anything that doesn't feel right about how the equipment is working — rather than assuming the last formal inspection covers every subsequent use.

Building Staff Confidence, Not Just Compliance

Hoisting training that's treated as a box-ticking exercise tends to produce staff who can pass an assessment but hesitate or improvise under real pressure — for example, when a resident is anxious about being hoisted, or when the "usual" sling isn't available. Care teams that build in a brief peer-check system — a second staff member glancing over sling and hoist setup before an unfamiliar or higher-risk transfer — tend to catch avoidable mistakes before they become incidents, at very little extra time cost. Good training builds genuine confidence: how to explain the process calmly to someone who finds hoisting frightening or undignifying, how to problem-solve when equipment doesn't quite match the usual setup, and how to recognise when a transfer shouldn't go ahead because something isn't right. This connects closely to wider manual handling and patient moving training, which hoisting competency should sit alongside rather than replace.

Reducing Falls Risk Around Transfers

Transfers using hoists and other mobility equipment are a recognised moment of higher falls risk, particularly if equipment is rushed, mismatched, or used by staff who aren't confident with it. Teams that invest properly in hoisting competency tend to see this reflected in their wider falls prevention record, since a controlled, well-executed transfer removes one of the more preventable causes of falls and near-misses in a care setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every member of staff need hoist training, or just some?
Anyone who might be involved in hoisting a resident needs training on the specific equipment used in that setting — informal "picking it up by watching a colleague" is not adequate training.

How often should hoists be formally inspected?
Under LOLER, lifting equipment requires regular thorough examination by a competent person, with the exact interval depending on the equipment and its use — this is separate from the day-to-day visual checks staff should carry out before each use.

Can one sling be used with any hoist?
No — sling and hoist compatibility matters, and mismatched equipment is a known cause of transfer-related harm. Any concerns about compatibility should be raised with the manufacturer or equipment provider rather than worked around informally.

Hoisting is a skill staff should feel genuinely confident in, not just signed off on. Learnsignal's CPD courses for care and healthcare staff build that confidence alongside the wider moving and handling curriculum.