Critical Care Units Benefit From Silent Closing Pedal Bins


SKF, the knowledge engineering company, has supplied a specially designed oil filled damper for use in a new range of pedal operated bins from Bristol Maid and Hospital Metalcraft. The range combines smooth, silent opening and closing with hygienic features that make them ideal for use in hospital critical care units.

David Forrest, Design Engineer at Bristol Maid, explained the requirement, “We were looking for a solution that allowed pedal bins in hospitals, and critical care environments in particular, to close smoothly and silently, while meeting the exceptional hygiene standards required in such applications. Coma patients often have an extremely heightened sense of hearing and are acutely aware of their surroundings. With pedal bins in intensive care units being used between 60-100 times a day, significant distress can be caused to patients and may slow the recovery process. Likewise, at night in shared wards, when patients are sleeping but doctors and nurses still busy working, the problem of noise from pedal bins also arises. This often results in the bins being moved away from patients, which in turn causes issues with harmful waste being carried across wards, risking contamination and ultimately infection.”

Due to the existing partnership between the two companies, Hospital Metalcraft contacted SKF in order to provide a reliable solution based on its extensive experience with Stabilus gas springs. SKF approached the project from a customer focused perspective, taking one of the new bins, and built a solution around it as opposed to making an existing product fit. A conventional gas spring that was initially trialled was discarded as the product enabled smooth and easy opening of the bin lids but not a soft and aesthetic closure. A Stabilus STAB-O-SHOC oil filled damper proved to be the solution.

The STAB-O-SHOC is designed to have a high resistance force in compression but low to zero in extension, resulting in unrestricted travel when the bin lid is opened. When the foot pedal is released in order to close the bin, the damper enables a relatively slow movement until the last few seconds when the lid closes slowly and gently with the support of the damping force allowing a silent closure.

The damper includes a high quality oil with tightly controlled viscosity and, coupled with Stabilus’s excellent component quality, ensures optimum performance. The STAB-O-SHOC has been tested in conditions between 0°c and 80°c with no detrimental effect on performance, making it also suitable for use in extremely challenging locations such as crematoriums or autopsy rooms. It is compact, just 101.5mm when compressed and 128mm extended, and ergonomically designed, allowing it to be easily incorporated into the existing fixtures and fittings of the new bins, without the need for major alterations.

The new high quality bins are available in a choice of capacities (20, 50, 75 and 90ltr) and feature solid steel construction with positive bag retention achieved by means of elasticated cord or drop over clamp. This reduces the risk of unhygienic spillages from the bag onto the exterior of the bin, which can aid the spread of harmful bacteria. For ease of cleaning, it has a removable body with radious corners, rubber feet keeping the unit clear of the floor, and an integral tube weld in the chassis of the bin’s structure.

The bins come with a number of additional features making them simple to use, including rear mounted wheels to aid mobility, and a front opening mechanism for easy bag removal. The range is already being supplied to the NHS and private health care organisations.

David Forrest of Bristol Maid said, “We are delighted with the solution which SKF offered us. It is so refreshing for a solution to be built around our products as opposed to having to design our products around its components. The bins are already proving to be a huge success and are making a big difference to hospital workers and patients alike.”

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