Moving safely in healthcare

The benefits of the technology as a materials handling aid has been reinforced by the release of an endorsement by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), which suggested the use of electric tugs in hospitals could provide an ideal solution for porters, aiding them through the physical demands of their vital role.

It is reported that porters are often over-stretched due to load of work, or time taken to perform manual tasks. This, in addition to the impact that lifting and handling can have on individuals’ health, can also have a negative impact on the delivery of patient support.

These reasons have led to the HSE voicing a positive opinion of electric tug solutions, namely because they allow operatives to move more than one manually-handled ‘load’ at a time – be that a sizeable replenishment of fresh linen, or a frequent transfer of clinical waste.

The solution of attaching electric tugs to roll cages and trolleys is already a trusted technique within industries as diverse as retail, aerospace, construction & mining.  Across all of these sectors, improvements in efficiency and safety standards during materials handling operations have been noted.