Selecting a caster can be difficult, and it’s often overlooked. In the medical field, casters are the key to making mobile equipment, medical carts and even patient beds move smoothly. High-quality casters help ensure safe, efficient movement for both patients and staff.

If you’re evaluating medical-grade casters, here are a few features to keep in mind.

Swivel vs rigid

There are two main types of casters to look into for medical facilities:

• Swivel – rotates 360 degrees
• Rigid – roll in a straight line

Most casters have a combination of both, allowing for tight turns, flexibility and control. Depending on the application, though, you may just need one kind for specific equipment.

Placement of each kind also allows for differences in performance. The most common setup is to have swivels in the front and rigids in the rear. This is similar to a shopping cart and is very user-friendly. Using all swivels can be good for tight spaces, but may be harder to control and keep straight.

Smooth-rolling

Not every caster has the same smoothness. Smooth-rolling casters help staff move patients and equipment more easily and with less effort. Choosing the right kind of caster decreases the chance of premature wear or poor performance, so it’s important to choose the right fit for your facility.

The smoothness of a caster may also depend on the material of the floor. For the most part, a soft tread is usually better for hard, non-carpeted floors, but getting a caster survey can help narrow down options for your medical facility. Choosing the wrong material may lead to the casters themselves wearing down and damage to the floors.

Weight capacity

One thing that may be easy to overlook in the selection process is weight capacity. Not every caster is able to support the same amount of weight on it, so considering the loads they’ll be bearing is necessary when purchasing new casters. Even if you have the right kind, it is important that their placement is correct. Improper placement can put all the weight on one caster, which could lead to failure or damage.

It is also important to remember that you must think of the equipment’s weight, as well as the weight of the load on top. For example, the weight of a crash cart and all of the tools that will go in it. Giving yourself a slight overestimate leaves a margin of safety to ensure the casters are not overloaded.

Safety features

The right caster can prevent accidents and injuries. Smooth-rolling casters can prevent strain when pushing and pulling, lessening the chance of shoulder or back pain. Other features to look for in terms of safety include:

• Brakes – no one wants a runaway medical cart
• Locking mechanisms for added control
• Swivels functionality for easier maneuvering
• Low-noise operation for a quieter environment
• Proper load ratings to ensure safe use

Electronic brake casters

Along with basic safety features, some facilities are starting to look at more advanced caster options to make equipment easier to manage day to day. One example is electronic brake casters, which use a central locking system rather than individual wheel locks.

With these systems, multiple casters can be locked or released at once, often with the push of a button. That can make a noticeable difference for staff who are moving beds, treatment chairs or other equipment throughout the day.

They’re not necessary for every application, but in the right setting, they can help improve consistency, reduce manual effort and make equipment a little easier to control.

Conclusion

There are many factors that go into choosing the right medical-grade casters. If you need help on this front, we are always here to perform a caster survey or discuss solutions you may need.

Planning ahead and looking into caster upgrades helps keep disruptions to a minimum; otherwise, equipment may fail or begin to degrade, making work harder. Reach out for an evaluation and recommendations!