Overcoming Challenges With The Medical Applications Of Castors
Healthcare facilities rely on castors and wheels to facilitate the efficient movement of furniture and equipment, both small items, such as blood pressure monitors and IV infusion stands, to large and unwieldy objects, such as hospital beds. The ability to move equipment is critical to ensure patients receive the prompt medical care they need; however, choosing the wrong castors can lead to problems, including floor damage, instability, and electrostatic discharge. By selecting the proper castor type and being vigilant about maintenance, healthcare staff can overcome these challenges.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common challenges facing healthcare staff and how choosing the right medical castors and wheels can make a difference.
Protecting Hospital Floors
A common problem that is caused by using incorrect castors and wheels is damage to floor surfaces. Nylon and plastic wheels can scratch, scuff, and mark floors as the equipment moves. As well as looking unsightly, this damage can make cleaning and disinfecting more difficult and time-consuming. The solution is to install non-marking castor wheels made of rubber or polyurethane, which are floor-friendly materials. It’s important to inspect castors for signs of wear regularly and to replace any that are worn, as this can impact their performance.
Improving Manoeuvrability
Another key factor is weight capacity and stability. Portable medical equipment, such as hospital beds, can be bulky and heavy, so it is crucial that castors can handle the load. A low weight capacity can make equipment unstable and more likely to tip over. By ensuring castor ratings exceed the maximum weights to which they will be exposed, you can be confident that equipment will be easy to move and safe for patients and staff. Locking castor wheels can also keep vital medical equipment in place when stationary.
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge
Finally, healthcare settings require effective protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can damage sensitive electronic devices and pose dangers to equipment operators. Antistatic castors with in-built grounding features prevent the accumulation of static electricity as objects move across floors. Consulting with a castor expert will enable you to identify the best ESD castor wheels for each application.
Contact Us To Find Out More
For more information about our extensive range of castors and wheels for medical equipment and furniture, please get in touch with the experts at Rolltek today.
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