Equipment Safety Audit - Care Homes

Evidence to check

• • Staff can explain practical equipment safety responsibilities
• • Equipment safety policy is current, accessible and understood
• • Staff know how to report faults, defects or misuse
• • Policy is reflected in equipment checks, maintenance records and observed practice

Evidence to check

• • Current equipment inventory
• • Inventory includes care, mobility, medical, evacuation and assistive equipment
• • Equipment location and ownership are clear
• • New, removed or disposed equipment is updated promptly

Evidence to check

• • LOLER inspection schedule
• • Hoists, standing aids and slings included where applicable
• • Inspection dates are current and future dates planned
• • No lifting equipment in use without required examination records

Evidence to check

• • Current LOLER certificates or reports
• • Reports completed by a competent person
• • Defects and recommendations tracked to completion
• • Equipment removed from use where LOLER report indicates it is unsafe

Evidence to check

• • Servicing and maintenance schedule
• • Service records for sampled equipment
• • Overdue servicing identified and escalated
• • Equipment remains suitable for current resident needs

Evidence to check

• • Fault and defect logs
• • Dates reported, actioned and resolved
• • Temporary controls recorded where equipment remains unavailable
• • Staff know not to continue using unsafe equipment

Evidence to check

• • Equipment training records
• • Competency assessments for relevant equipment
• • Observed practice during equipment use
• • Staff do not use equipment they have not been trained or signed off to use

Evidence to check

• • Resident-specific equipment risk assessments
• • Care plan identifies equipment purpose and safe use
• • Professional advice sought where specialist equipment is required
• • Assessment reviewed when resident needs or risks change

Evidence to check

• • Manufacturer instructions or safe-use guidance available
• • Staff know how to access instructions
• • Care plans include resident-specific use instructions
• • Observed use matches manufacturer guidance and care plan instructions

Evidence to check

• • Slings labelled for individual use where required
• • Correct sling type and size recorded in care plan
• • Slings visibly clean and undamaged
• • Slings stored safely to prevent contamination, loss or incorrect use

Evidence to check

• • Bed rail risk assessment
• • Consent, mental capacity or best-interest decision where relevant
• • Entrapment, falls and restriction risks considered
• • Bed rail use reviewed and removed where no longer needed

Evidence to check

• • Testing records for assistive technology
• • Staff respond appropriately to alerts
• • Equipment settings match the resident's assessed need
• • Faults, false alarms or missed alerts are reviewed and acted on

Evidence to check

• • Evacuation chairs, sledges or mats checked and accessible
• • Equipment not blocked or stored in unsuitable areas
• • Staff know which residents need evacuation equipment
• • Fire drills or scenario discussions include use of evacuation aids

Evidence to check

• • Medical device servicing or maintenance records
• • Manufacturer guidance available where required
• • Resident care plans include safe-use instructions
• • Staff competency recorded for devices they use or support

Evidence to check

• • Charging routines for hoists, powered wheelchairs and other powered equipment
• • Battery checks recorded where required
• • Chargers and cables are in good condition
• • Equipment is not unavailable because batteries are uncharged

Evidence to check

• • Storage arrangements for clinical equipment
• • Cleaning records or cleaning guidance
• • Calibration or accuracy checks where required
• • Sharps bins correctly assembled, labelled, not overfilled and stored safely

Evidence to check

• • Observation of equipment cleaning where possible
• • Cleaning schedules for shared equipment
• • Staff know which products and methods to use
• • No visibly dirty or contaminated equipment in use

Evidence to check

• • Mobility aid inspection records
• • Rubber ferrules, brakes, wheels and frames checked
• • Equipment height and fit are suitable for the resident
• • Damaged or unsuitable aids are removed, repaired or replaced

Evidence to check

• • Wheelchair condition checks
• • Footplates and brakes working correctly
• • Seat belts or posture supports assessed and used appropriately
• • Resident comfort, skin integrity and posture considered

Evidence to check

• • Unsafe equipment quarantine procedure
• • Labels or physical separation used for faulty equipment
• • Staff can explain what to do with unsafe equipment
• • Records show unsafe equipment is not left available for use

Evidence to check

• • Incident and near miss records involving equipment
• • Root cause or contributory factors identified
• • Equipment, care plans or staff practice changed after incidents
• • Learning shared with staff and followed up

Evidence to check

• • Care plan reviews include equipment needs
• • Risk assessments updated after changes in need
• • Professional advice requested where equipment may no longer be suitable
• • Staff informed when equipment guidance changes

Evidence to check

• • Records of external provider checks
• • Service reports from qualified or competent providers
• • Specialist equipment serviced by appropriate contractors
• • Provider recommendations reviewed and acted on

Evidence to check

• • Equipment servicing and maintenance records
• • Records are easy to retrieve for audit or inspection
• • Overdue checks are flagged and escalated
• • Audit findings lead to action where records are missing or incomplete

Evidence to check

• • Personal equipment recorded in care plans
• • Risk assessments for resident-owned equipment where relevant
• • Residents are supported to use equipment independently where safe
• • Unsafe personal equipment is discussed sensitively and risk-managed

Evidence to check

• • Resident and family feedback about equipment
• • Staff concerns about suitability or comfort recorded
• • Feedback leads to review, replacement or professional referral
• • Complaints or incidents involving equipment are analysed

Evidence to check

• • Backup equipment or contingency plan for essential items
• • Staff know what to do if equipment fails
• • Urgent repair or replacement arrangements available
• • Care risks are reassessed while equipment is unavailable

Evidence to check

• • Escalation records for serious faults
• • Management response to high-risk defects
• • Immediate controls such as removal from use or alternative equipment
• • Residents affected by the fault are risk assessed

Evidence to check

• • Equipment disposal records
• • Damaged or obsolete equipment removed from resident areas
• • Disposal follows infection control, waste and manufacturer guidance where relevant
• • Inventory updated after disposal

Evidence to check

• • Governance or health and safety meeting minutes
• • Equipment audit reports
• • Trends in defects, incidents or overdue servicing reviewed
• • Actions tracked to completion and checked for effectiveness