1. Home
  2. Help & advice
  3. News
  4. Update on the safety of treatment tables

Update on the safety of treatment tables

Therapieliege © Frank Herrmann www.fh-photodesign.com-stock.adobe.com

2022-11-29

On treatment tables with powered height adjustment, incidents in which persons become entrapped between structural elements of the table are not uncommon. In IFA Report 4/2022, the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA) presents a procedure for evaluating the efficacy of a safety measure in possible accident scenarios and hazardous situations. To facilitate application of the procedure, a detailed description and a series of examples are provided.

Further information for manufacturers and operators of treatment tables can be found on the website of the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the health and welfare services (BGW). The information includes model risk assessments, a manufacturer’s declaration for new and upgraded legacy treatment tables confirming that they comply with the recommendations of the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), and a catalogue of frequently asked questions. Operators insured by the BGW may receive a grant for the upgrading of legacy treatment tables or procurement of new treatment tables featuring particularly good safety technology.

IFA Report: Bewertung der Wirksamkeit konstruktiver und technischer Maßnahmen zur Risikominderung mechanischer Gefährdungen an energetisch höhenverstellbaren Liegen (in German)
BGW information: Risiken an höhenverstellbaren Therapieliegen (in German)