Overhead patient lift systems are implemented as a safety technology, but are not without their own safety challenges. Significant injury or damage can occur if the system is designed, installed, used, or maintained improperly. Overhead patient lift systems are fixed structures designed to lift and transfer patients, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. During use, the patient is placed in a sling suspended from a lifting mechanism. Most overhead lifts use a motorized trolley that travels along an overhead track that is mounted to the ceiling or wall or that is part of a freestanding frame built around a patient bed or other location. Safety challenges with these systems arise from (1) their installation requirements and (2) their reliance on weight-bearing and moving parts to function dependably, and be used correctly, when lifting and moving a patient. Lift components that fall from above or that fail during use can harm patients, care providers, and visitors. Risks can be reduced by having qualified personnel install the system, thoroughly testing the system after installation, assessing the condition of the lift before and during each use, and performing regular preventive maintenance.
https://www.ecri.org/Resources/Whitepapers_and_reports/Haz_19.pdf