A switching arrangement for a patient hoist - for example, a ceiling-mounted hoist for lifting and transporting patients with mobility impairments - includes a switching member which descends from the hoist such that it is reachable by an operat -or standing on the floor adjacent to the patient. The switch can be actuated by the operator to disable the hoist by moving the switch member with a first type of motion, e.g., by pulling the switch member along an axis. The hoist member can thereafter be re- enabled by the switch member only when the switch member is moved with a second type of motion different from the first type, e.g., by ro -tating the switch member along the axis. The use of different disabling and enabling motions helps to deter accidental re-enablement once the hoist is disabled, which is particularly useful where disablement is done for emergency purposes.
