Abstract: There is described a monitoring system for monitoring an apparatus for raising and lowering a person, for example an item of adjustable furniture or a hoist. The monitoring system comprises a memory for recording information relating to the operational history of the monitored apparatus. Amongst other information the memory may record periods when power supplied to an actuator of the apparatus exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and the number of operations performed by the apparatus. When the number of operations reaches a pre-determined amount the system can inhibit operation of the device.