Correct lifting practices are required in order to avoid the risk of a back injury. However, what do you do if you need to lift or move something that is just too heavy for you, even with helpers?  Hoist lifts are designed to lift even the heaviest of loads and make your life convenient.  Here’s everything you need to know. For help in selecting the perfect hoist lift for you, talk to your local lifts professional.

What is a Hoist Lift?

A hoist lift can simply be defined as any type of lift that takes over the job of moving something for you.  The hoist lift does all of the heavy work, saving your back and transferring a person or item safely and without damage.  There are two types of hoist lifts – mechanical hoist lifts and patient hoist lifts.

Mechanical Hoist Lifts

A mechanical hoist lift is hydraulically powered or lever operated and it is designed to safely lift heavy items such as motors from cars or trucks, full drums or barrels, and so on.  The hoist itself has a hook that is attached to the load to be lifted. For example, you can attach heavy duty straps to the load itself, and then attach the hook to the special point on the straps.  The mechanical lift will maintain the correct tensioning and slack, and you can then transfer the heavy load from one area to another yourself.

Patient Hoist Lifts

The other main type of hoist lift is those that are used to lift and transport patients or people that may be mobility challenged.  They make transporting the patient easy and safe and there is no risk of back injuries from carers trying to move the patient themselves.  There are different types of patient hoist lifts available – portable ceiling lifts, mobile floor hoists, and wall lift hoists.  Each lift has a comfortable, supportive sling or harness for the patient to sit in. The sling or harness is then attached to the hoist lift and the carer can operate the lift with mutual convenience.  Patient hoist lifts are commonly used to assist people to get in and out of bed but they are also helpful for relocating (between chairs for example), or to help people bathe or go to the toilet.