How Do They Get You Off the Operating Table? Safe Transfer Methods for OR Teams

The principle: slide, do not lift

Safe patient transfer on an operating table follows a simple rule: reduce the lifting and the friction. Moving an anaesthetised patient from table to trolley involves a dead weight that cannot assist, and manual lifting is a leading cause of musculoskeletal injury among nursing and theatre staff.

Teams therefore use lateral transfer aids that let the patient slide horizontally between two surfaces set at the same height, with the brakes on both.

Equipment for moving a patient to the operating table

The most common aid is a patient transfer board, a rigid low-friction board that bridges the gap between table and trolley. Flexible slide sheets and roller boards serve the same purpose, and air-assisted hover mats reduce effort further for heavier patients. Whichever you choose, it must be radiolucent if it stays under the patient during imaging, and it must be cleanable between cases.

Choose equipment to match your patients. For bariatric patients, use aids rated for the load and make sure enough staff are present. Always follow your hospital's manual handling policy.

• Rigid transfer board for stable lateral slides
• Slide sheets or roller boards for lighter transfers
• Air-assisted mats where heavier patients are common
• Straps and padding to protect limbs and lines

Steps and roles in a safe transfer

A typical sequence begins with a briefing. One person, usually the anaesthetist, controls the head and airway and calls the move. Other staff position themselves on both sides, drains, catheters and intravenous lines are checked, and the trolley is brought to the same height as the table, aligned and braked.

The patient is then moved on the call, while the team keeps the spine neutral and avoids dragging the skin. After the move, check lines, monitoring and pressure points, secure side rails and only then release the brakes. The sequence is the same when moving a patient to the operating table at the start of the case.

How the table and trolley design help

Table design shapes how hard a transfer is. A top that is at the same height as the trolley, firm locking and a low profile all help. Some day surgery units use an all-in-one solution: the Lojer Rapido is a hydraulic table-trolley for pre-induction, transport, operation and recovery, so the patient can stay on the same surface through the pathway.

Rapido has safety rails for transport, antistatic twin castors with central locking and a safe working load of 160 kg, with a height range of 650 to 1020 mm adjusted by foot pedals. This reduces the number of transfers, though your risk assessment decides when one is still needed.

Common transfer mistakes to avoid

Frequent errors include mismatched heights between table and trolley, unlocked brakes on one surface, pulling the patient by the limbs or sheet corners and leaving a catheter or line unsecured. Another is forgetting that a patient who has just been anaesthetised cannot protect their own joints.

Build a short checklist into the sign-out routine: heights matched, brakes on, lines checked, airway controlled, skin and pressure points inspected. Repeating it every case makes the safe method the habit.

Planning for your department

Write transfer procedures into your theatre policy, train every new team member and audit practice. Check that doors, lifts and corridors suit the equipment. For related guidance, read our article on operating table safety straps.

If you are reviewing equipment for a new or refurbished suite, ask Beckfinity's specialists to advise through our contact page.