A sling does not announce that it is wearing out. The fabric keeps its color, the loops look fine from across the room, and the label is often faded or folded under. The check has to be a line on the day sheet, done before the first lift of the day, not something you notice when a strap starts to give.

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Start with the label

Find the label before anything else. Confirm the sling is listed for her size and for the lift you use, and read the weight limit printed on it. If the label is gone, cut off, or unreadable, stop using that sling and ask the supplier for a replacement. A sling you cannot identify is a sling you cannot check.

Run your hands along the seams

Stitching is the first place wear shows. Run your fingers along every seam and loop. Look for pulled threads, short cut tails, a seam that has opened by a finger's width, or stitching that looks different from the rest. Fraying at the edges where the sling rubs the frame or the chair is common, so check both sides.

Check the clips, buckles, and hardware

Snap each clip and buckle closed and pull on it. It should lock and hold without slipping. Look for cracks in plastic, bent metal, rust spots, or a catch that sticks. If a clip only closes after you force it, mark it and take it out of service.

Watch for changes after washing

Washing can weaken fabric or change how a sling sits. Look for stiff patches, thin spots, faded bands, or a smell that does not wash out. Read the care label before each wash, because the wrong heat or the wrong detergent can cause damage that does not show until the sling is under her.

Put the check on the sheet

Write one line on the day sheet: sling checked, seams, clips, label, by whom, at what hour. Use the same order every time so a missed box stands out. If the lift manual gives an inspection schedule or a removal rule, copy that rule onto the sheet beside the check. If the manual is missing, ask the equipment supplier or her therapist for a copy before you use the lift again.

What to ask before the next lift

Ask the supplier which sling model matches your lift and her size, what the label should show, and which kinds of wear mean you must stop using it. Ask whether a replacement is covered under your original paperwork. Keep the answers with the lift, not in a drawer.

The Strap Frays Before the Lift Fails: How to Spot Sling Wear Early