During a recent NHS training session on patient hoisting, a physiotherapist suggested that it was acceptable to apply one brake on a mobile hoist to help turn it – particularly on thick carpet where manoeuvring can feel difficult.

This advice was well-intentioned, but it is incorrect and unsafe.

After checking manufacturer guidance, best-practice manuals, and current manual-handling principles, it’s clear that applying a single brake to aid turning should not be taught or used in clinical practice.

Let’s unpack why.

This practice often comes from:

While understandable, difficulty does not justify unsafe technique.

Across major hoist manufacturers (e.g. Arjo, Invacare, Oxford/Joerns), guidance is consistent:

Castor brakes are designed for:

They are NOT designed to be used while manoeuvring a hoist with a patient suspended.

No manufacturer recommends:

Locking one castor introduces torsional forces through the hoist frame. With a patient suspended, the centre of gravity is already elevated – adding resistance on one wheel increases instability.

If the brake slips or releases unexpectedly:

Forcing a hoist against a locked wheel:

It can feel more controlled – but that control is artificial and unpredictable, especially on carpet.

When moving a hoist with a patient:

This allows:

If turning space is limited:

Instead of trying to pivot:

If thick carpet is the issue, the solution is not technique-workarounds:

This scenario highlights a key issue in manual handling education:

Clinical seniority does not override equipment guidance or biomechanics.

Even experienced clinicians can unintentionally pass on unsafe shortcuts if they’ve never been formally challenged.

As trainers, we have a responsibility to:

Putting one brake on a hoist to help turn it is not safe practice.

It:

If a hoist is difficult to move, that’s a risk-assessment and equipment issue, not a technique problem.