Mechanical lift products can assist with lifting, moving and transferring items and people. Large scale mechanical lifts are permanent fixtures within a building which allow movement of individuals or equipment through the push of a button, and eliminate the need for traverse stairs or ramps. They can be a range of sizes to suit varying needs and are usually multi storey and built into a building at the time of construction. Mechanical lifts can be added to buildings post construction if required, such as following an individual becoming wheelchair bound, to eliminate the need to climb stairs to access upper floors of a building. Professional advice needs to be sought regarding the suitability of the building to be modified, local government approval requirements and compliance with Australian Standards. See the link below for more information:
Workplace solutions and adjustments
In certain instances a stair lift may be the most appropriate solution to access issues within the workplace and also in a home setting:
Mechanical lifts can also be portable, ceiling mounted or bedside. They are useful in nursing and personal care settings where there are lift restrictions or where a person is prevented from lifting due to physical disability or other medical conditions, or where the weight of the person being lifted prevents safe manual handling:
Specialised lifts are available such as toilet lifts, which are available to assist people with disability to stand independently from the toilet, reducing the need for assistance from a carer.
For individuals with restricted mobility or those that fatigue easily and are involved in work over multiple floors of buildings requiring traversing of ramps and stairs, the use of mechanical lifts can reduce the physical effort required to move around the workplace. Mechanical lift and hoist options within personal care environments also reduce the risk of personal injury from transferring dependent patients.
References:
Everyday Access (no date specified), Vertical Platform Lifts, Everyday Access, Scarborough Queensland, viewed 4 August 2010, <http://www.everydayaccess.com.au/service4.html>.
Everyday Access (no date specified), Vertical Platform Lifts, Everyday Access, Scarborough Queensland, viewed 4 August 2010, <http://www.everydayaccess.com.au/service2.html>.
Guldmann (no date specified), GH3 Ceiling Hoist System, Guldmann, Denmark, viewed 3 August 2010, <http://www.guldmann.com/Default.aspx?ID=3634&GroupID=GROUP107>.
Guldmann (no date specified), Lifting platforms, Guldmann, Denmark, viewed 4 August 2010, <http://www.guldmann.com/Default.aspx?ID=3634&GroupID=GROUP3>.
Li, J., Wolf, L. & Evanoff, B. 2004, Use of mechanical patient lifts decreased musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries among health care workers, Injury Prevention, vol. 10, viewed 4 August 2010, <http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/10/4/212>.
WYMO Lifting Aids 2010, Bath Access Hoist, WYMO Lifting Aids, South Grafton, viewed 3 August 2010, http://www.wymo.com.au/db/Default.aspx?tabid=194.