What is Anti Ligature?

When planning the construction or anti ligature refurbishment of a bedroom or bathroom for patients suffering from mental illness, it is essential in the design process to eliminate points where a cord, rope, or bed sheet can be looped or tied to a fixture in order to create a point of ligature, which may result in self harm or in extreme cases, loss of life. Unfortunately, many items that would be considered standard for a bedroom or a bathroom pose a risk of ligature and alternate products must be used in order to achieve the same function, yet provide a safe environment for both patients and staff. There are a variety of ways in which we can safeguard against ligature in these areas. They are as follow.

Load Release Anti Ligature

Load Release systems the brackets are magnetic and will securely hold a range of items by magnetic attraction. When an abnormal load is applied the magnetic force is overcome and releases its load. There is no decline in performance and no mechanical restraint, nothing can jam, break or wear out. After a load free incident, all that is required is for the suspended item to be held immediately below the magnets and the system automatically will reattach.

Fixed Anti-Ligature

Fixed anti-ligature device remain in place and are required to hold weight or strain such as a hand rail, towel hook, curtain track or a door handle.  As these items don’t break free under an abnormal load, the ligature risk is eliminated by designing it in such a way that it is not possible for a cord like object to be looped or tied around to these supports. The main advantage of the fixed system vrs the magnetic release system in mental wards or prisons the system cant be used as a weapon, this is a major issue in metal health wards in Victoria and has seen the replacement of Load Release anti-ligature system with the newer fixed ant-ligature curtain track.

Unique Anti-ligature Fixed Curtain track

Curtains reduce the risk of self-injury and suicide, eg p5 psychiatric clinics and prisons. With curtains, a more normalized environment can be created, they also allow the user to control the light flow or darken the room. Textiles have a great impact on acoustics. Noise is a major problem and can effect health negatively. Our Anti-ligature curtain track  provides a safe curtain solution. The curtain rail has a unique and patented design that makes it impossible to use as an attachment point.  Mounting with safety screws means that no larger parts can be unloaded, except for the curtain hangers. This means that no loose parts can present a risk of self-injury or are used as weapon to injure health or justice staff.

Unique Anti Ligature Roller Blind

Our new anti ligature roller blinds will detach from the wall if over 40kg is applied to the system. The roller blind works with our zero gravity spring system that does not require any force to raise or lower the blind. The blind automatically stops when you stop.  However the anti-ligiture roller blind does require the roller blind to detach from the magnetic hold system, this may provide the patient an opportunity to use the roller blind tube as a weapon in certain situations.