Patient lifting slings work hard.
They are repeatedly loaded, applied, removed, washed and handled. Over time, fabric, stitching, straps and attachment points can deteriorate. Some damage is obvious. Other changes may only become clear when you handle the sling.
Regular inspection is therefore an important part of safe sling use.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland recommends inspecting a sling before each use and having a proactive maintenance program. WorkSafe Victoria also recommends pre-use checks, formal periodic examinations and documented sling records.
So, what should you check, how should slings be maintained, and when should a sling be removed from use?
Check the Sling Before Every Use
A quick check before each transfer can identify damage before the sling is loaded.
Joerns' sling instructions recommend checking the sling and stitching before each use. They state that bleached, torn, cut, frayed or broken slings are unsafe and should be discarded and replaced.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland also advises checking the condition of the sling and hoist before every use, with particular attention to attachment points, seams and other vulnerable areas.
Before using a sling, check:
- Is the sling label present and legible?
- Is the fabric intact?
- Are the seams and stitching secure?
- Are lifting straps and loops intact?
- Are clips or other attachments, where fitted, undamaged?
- Are there any tears, cuts, holes or punctures?
- Is there any fraying or excessive wear?
- Are there any knots or unauthorised alterations?
- Are there signs of heat, chemical or other damage?
Do not rely on your eyes alone.
The Enable Sling Audit Checklist recommends using both visual and hands-on inspection. Changes such as fabric stiffness, crushed webbing or thinning may be easier to detect through touch.
What Does Sling Damage Look and Feel Like?
Sling deterioration does not always look the same.
The Enable Sling Audit Checklist identifies a range of issues to look for during a more detailed inspection, including:
- Broken or worn stitching
- Tears, holes or punctures
- Fraying
- Snags
- Cuts or abrasion
- Insecure seams
- Crushed or damaged webbing
- Significant discolouration
- Chemical or caustic damage
- Thermal burns, melting or charring
- Changes in the consistency of the material
- Embedded particles
- Knots in straps
- Missing or incomplete identification information
The checklist also gives a simple principle:
Intact = use. Damage = do not use.
A damaged sling should not be given a lower working load in an attempt to keep it in service.
Why Do Patient Slings Deteriorate?
There is no single service life that applies to every sling.
Joerns states that the expected service life of its slings varies according to use and whether the care and washing instructions are followed. Factors including wash temperature, detergents, frequency of use and patient weight can affect sling life.
This is why the condition of the sling matters more than simply knowing its age.
A sling that is used and washed frequently may experience different wear from one used less often. Regular inspection gives carers and clinicians an opportunity to notice changes before they become more significant.
Washing and Care Are Part of Sling Maintenance
Cleaning is essential, but it can also affect sling materials if the manufacturer's instructions are not followed.
WorkSafe Victoria recommends cleaning slings according to the manufacturer's instructions and warns that incorrect cleaning may contribute to damage or rapid deterioration of sling components.
Always follow the washing and care instructions for the specific sling being used.
For Oxford slings, check the sling label and the applicable Oxford or Joerns Instructions for Use. Do not assume that every sling material, model or manufacturer has the same washing and drying requirements.
A sling should also be inspected when it returns to use after laundering.
The Sling Label Is Part of the Safety Check
It can be easy to focus on fabric and stitching and overlook the sling label.
The label contains important information that helps staff identify the sling and use and maintain it correctly.
Oxford sling labelling includes information such as:
- Sling model
- Part number
- Size
- Safe working load
- Date of manufacture
- Washing and care instructions
- Testing information
- Service information
The Oxford labelling information provided by Joerns also states that each sling has a unique serial number to enable traceability, which is particularly useful for inspection and audit records.
This becomes valuable when an organisation has several slings of the same model and size.
Instead of documenting:
"Medium sling inspected."
the individual sling can be linked to its own inspection history:
Sling model → Size → Unique serial number → Inspection date → Condition → Outcome
Oxford's labelling also includes a service log, which can support ongoing sling management alongside an organisation's formal sling register.
Your Enable Sling Audit Checklist follows the same principle by including a field for the sling's unique identification number.
Good sling auditing is not only about finding damage. It is also about knowing which sling has been inspected.
How Often Should Slings Be Formally Inspected?
There is an important difference between a check before use and a formal periodic sling inspection.
WorkSafe Victoria recommends that slings are checked before every use and that a competent person carries out an examination of all slings twice a year. It also recommends maintaining an inventory and records of sling purchase, commissioning, testing and maintenance.
The Enable Sling Audit Checklist similarly provides guidance for a six-month inspection.
It is important not to describe this as a universal Australian legal requirement for a six-month sling audit. WorkSafe Victoria's guidance recommends twice-yearly examination and refers to AS/NZS ISO 10535. Australian WHS requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
More broadly, Safe Work Australia's 2025 Model Code of Practice for the healthcare and social assistance industry says equipment should be inspected and maintained, manufacturer and supplier instructions should be reviewed, and maintenance, inspection and necessary testing should be completed by a competent person.
A formal periodic inspection does not replace the check before each use.
When Should a Sling Be Removed From Use?
If damage is found, do not wait for the sling to fail.
WorkSafe Victoria recommends withdrawing slings with damage such as tears, fraying, loose threads, damaged stitching, seams or straps, or cracks and breaks in clips and other components. It also provides guidance for dealing with slings that have illegible labels or no other identification information.
Joerns instructs users not to alter slings and states that worn slings should be destroyed and discarded.
If you are unsure about the integrity of a sling, remove it from use and follow the manufacturer's instructions and your organisation's process for assessment, replacement or disposal.
Safe to Use Does Not Always Mean Suitable for the Person
There is one more check that is just as important.
A sling may be physically intact but no longer meet the person's clinical needs.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland recommends reassessing the person regularly or when there is a notable change in their physical or mental status, and selecting the sling, hoist and transfer method based on that assessment.
A sling assessment may need to be reviewed when there is a change in:
- Weight or body shape
- Head or trunk control
- Posture
- Muscle tone or involuntary movement
- Skin integrity
- Pain
- Transfer ability
- Care environment
- Transfer requirements
This is an important distinction.
Sling inspection asks: Is this sling safe to use?
Clinical reassessment asks: Is this still the right sling for this person?
For more guidance on clinical sling selection, read our How to Choose the Right Patient Sling: A Clinician's Guide to Materials, Styles and Clinical Decision-Making.
A Simple Approach to Sling Safety
Inspect → Audit → Remove → Reassess
This gives care teams a simple way to remember that sling safety involves both the condition of the equipment and its ongoing suitability for the person.
Make Sling Auditing Easier
When was your sling inventory last reviewed?
The Enable Sling Audit Checklist provides a structured way to inspect and document sling condition. It includes checks for the sling label, lifting straps, stitching, fabric and overall condition, as well as fields for recording the sling's unique identification number and inspection details.
Download the Sling Audit Checklist from the Enable Lifecare Clinician App to support your sling inspection and audit process.
Access via Menu > Resources > General Resources > Periodic Sling Inspection
References
- Joerns Healthcare. Hoyer Quickfit Sling User Instruction Manual. Manufacturer guidance covering intended use, expected service life, pre-use inspection and withdrawal of damaged slings.
- WorkSafe Victoria. Portable Hoists with Sling Attachments. Guidance covering pre-use checks, twice-yearly examination, sling records, cleaning, identification and withdrawal of damaged slings. Reviewed February 2022.
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Patient Lifting Slings. Guidance covering patient reassessment, sling selection, pre-use inspection and proactive maintenance.
- Safe Work Australia. Model Code of Practice: Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry. July 2025. Guidance on equipment inspection, maintenance, competent persons and following manufacturer and supplier instructions.
- Enable Lifecare. Periodic Sling Inspection according to DS/EN ISO 10535:2011, Guidance for 6-month inspection of slings. Sling inspection and audit checklist.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information to support sling inspection and maintenance practices. Always follow the current manufacturer's Instructions for Use for the specific sling and hoist, your organisation's policies and procedures, and the WHS requirements and guidance that apply in your Australian jurisdiction. If there is doubt about the safety or integrity of a sling, remove it from use and seek appropriate advice.
