Field Safety Notice issued for Arjo Tenor patient lifts used in healthcare settings

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is aware of a Field Safety Notice issued by BHTA member company Arjo concerning certain Tenor patient lifts.

This article shares important safety information for healthcare professionals, clinical staff, and facilities that use or manage the affected devices.

What has been identified?

Arjo has identified a potential issue affecting the lifting actuator used in certain Arjo Tenor lifts, as well as certain spare part actuators (TEN.107 and RKT.560).

During internal product testing at Arjo’s manufacturing site, an anomaly was detected in the behaviour of the lifting actuator. Further investigation confirmed that an internal component supplied by a third-party manufacturer may not meet the required mechanical strength specifications.

In rare circumstances, this could result in the actuator losing its ability to hold the load and cause a rapid, uncontrolled downward movement of the lifting arm.

The issue cannot be detected during normal pre‑use checks and would only become apparent if the component were to fail.

What is the potential risk?

If an affected actuator were to fail during use, the lifting arm could move downwards unexpectedly. This may expose patients and caregivers to potential injury.

Potential outcomes include falls, head injury, or other serious trauma for patients being lifted. Caregivers in close proximity to the device could also be at risk of musculoskeletal injuries, such as sprains, fractures, or other physical injuries.

Arjo has confirmed that no incidents or adverse events have been reported, and the issue was identified through internal testing.

Which devices are affected?

The Field Safety Notice applies to specific Arjo Tenor lifts manufactured between 6 March 2025 and 28 November 2025, along with certain spare part actuators.

Affected units can be identified by their serial number, which is located on the right-hand side of the lift mast.

Healthcare facilities and service providers should check the serial number on each device against the list of affected units provided by Arjo or a local Arjo representative.

What actions are required?

Arjo has instructed that all potentially affected Tenor lifts must be removed from service immediately and must not be used until the corrective action has been completed.

Healthcare facilities and organisations with potentially affected devices should:

• Identify any affected Tenor lifts using the serial number information provided by Arjo
• Remove affected devices from use immediately
• Inform relevant staff within the facility about the Field Safety Notice
• Complete and return the Customer Response Form provided by Arjo
• Ensure the devices are available for service when Arjo schedules the corrective action visit

If a Tenor lift has been transferred or sold to another facility, this information should be included in the response form so that the affected device can be traced and corrected.

Corrective action

Arjo will carry out a Field Safety Corrective Action consisting of the replacement of the affected lifting actuator with an updated component that meets the required mechanical specifications.

The actuator replacement will be carried out free of charge by Arjo service personnel, restoring the device to safe operating condition.

Until the actuator has been replaced, affected lifts must remain out of service. The devices do not need to be returned or destroyed, as the corrective action will be performed on-site.

Further information

Healthcare professionals and facilities are encouraged to review the official Field Safety Notice on the MHRA website for full details, including the list of affected serial numbers and response instructions.

For further information regarding this Field Safety Notice or assistance with the corrective action, healthcare providers should contact their local Arjo representative.

This communication is intended to ensure that BHTA members, healthcare professionals, and device users are aware of the manufacturer’s corrective action and the steps required to support continued patient and caregiver safety.