How the right Portering Chair can reduce staff injuries and absence

Over time, the physical strain of patient transport can lead to fatigue, injuries, and increased staff absence. Choosing the right portering chair plays a much bigger role in addressing these issues than many hospitals realise.

The hidden physical demands of portering work

Pushing and controlling a portering chair might look straightforward, but the cumulative load placed on staff can be significant.

Manual handling research consistently shows that pushing and pulling tasks are a major contributor to musculoskeletal disorders in healthcare environments. Repetitive movements, awkward postures, and high push forces all increase the risk of injury, particularly when staff are working long shifts or managing challenging routes. [RQS – To p…hanicalise | PowerPoint]

In portering roles, this strain often builds gradually rather than as a single incident, which means issues can go unnoticed until sickness absence increases.

Why equipment choice affects fatigue levels

Not all portering chairs place the same physical demand on staff.

Key factors that influence fatigue include:

• Push force required to move the chair
• Wheel size and rolling resistance
• Stability when turning or braking
• Chair behaviour on ramps and slopes

Smaller wheels, poor bearings, or uneven braking systems force porters to work harder to maintain control. Even small inefficiencies can add up over the course of a shift.

Chairs designed with larger rear wheels and central braking systems help reduce effort by improving rolling efficiency and control during everyday transfers.

Reducing strain improves consistency and safety

When staff are physically fatigued, the quality of patient transfers can suffer.

Fatigue can lead to:

• Inconsistent handling techniques
• Reduced attentiveness in busy areas
• Increased risk during slopes or thresholds

Equipment that reduces effort allows staff to maintain safer, more consistent handling throughout the day. This benefits not only staff wellbeing, but also patient safety and experience.

The TransitFlow portering chair range has been designed with features that support controlled movement and predictable handling, helping to reduce unnecessary physical strain during routine transfers.

The role of powered assistance in high‑demand environments

In some hospitals, manual portering chairs alone are not enough.

Sites with long distances, outdoor routes, or frequent slopes place additional demands on staff. In these environments, powered portering chairs can play an important role in reducing fatigue by providing consistent assistance without compromising control.

Examples from NHS sites have shown that introducing powered equipment for demanding routes can reduce strain on staff and help support long‑term workforce sustainability, particularly in departments with high manual handling exposure.

Powered chairs are not always necessary for every transfer, but used selectively they can significantly reduce cumulative fatigue.

Fatigue, absence, and operational impact

Staff fatigue does not just affect individuals. It has a direct knock‑on effect on hospital operations.

Increased manual handling injuries and fatigue can contribute to:

• Higher sickness absence
• Reduced team resilience
• Increased reliance on temporary staff
• Disruption to patient flow

By reducing physical strain at the source, hospitals can address one of the underlying contributors to absence rather than relying only on reactive solutions.

Supporting staff through better equipment decisions

Reducing staff fatigue is not about working harder. It is about working more efficiently with equipment that supports the task.

When reviewing portering chairs, it is worth asking:

• Do staff report fatigue on particular routes?
• Are injuries or sickness linked to pushing and pulling tasks?
• Are existing chairs adding unnecessary resistance or instability?

These questions often highlight where equipment improvements can have the greatest impact.

A smarter approach to portering equipment

The most effective hospital portering setups often use a combination of solutions:

• Manual chairs for short, flat indoor transfers
• Outdoor chairs for rougher routes
• Powered chairs for slopes and long distances

Matching the equipment to the environment helps protect staff while maintaining efficient patient movement.

Learn more about TransitFlow portering chairs

The TransitFlow range includes manual, outdoor, bariatric, and powered portering chairs designed to reduce physical effort while supporting safe patient transport.

If you would like to explore how different configurations could support your portering team, our team can arrange demonstrations and trials based on your real hospital routes.