Cleaning shared equipment: hoists, slings and wheelchairs

The risk

Hoists, slings, shower chairs, commodes and wheelchairs are touched by hands and skin all day. When equipment is shared between people, it can carry germs from one to the next.

Good practice

• Clean shared equipment between people, following the manufacturer's instructions and your provider's procedure.
• Focus on handles, controls, armrests, seats and anything that touched skin.
• Use single-person slings where they are provided, and launder reusable slings as directed.
• Clean commodes and shower chairs after every use.
• Leave disinfectant wet for its contact time, then let equipment dry.

Check and report

Damaged surfaces — torn seats, cracked plastic, frayed slings — can't be cleaned properly and may be unsafe. Report them so they can be repaired or replaced.