R Healthcare
8 & 9 Series
User Guide
Page
11
October 2013 Revision E
1.7
HANDLING & STABILITY ON STEPS & SLOPES
ENSURE THAT PUSH HANDLE LOCKS ARE ENGAGED BEFORE USE
A little forward journey planning can eliminate difficult manoeuvres
such as obstacles or steps. Modern public buildings should provide
permanent wheelchair ramps, with a practical slope angle, built
according to regulations, for safe access.
Technical Test data on static stability of wheelchairs should be seen as
a tool for comparison. Data does not convey actual feel of the
wheelchair in the intended environment. Initial supervised user training
and assessment by a rehabilitation professional, with the wheelchair in
the intended usage environment is recommended. Users should
ensure that they are confident with regard to this aspect of use.
An important factor in considering accessibility and slopes is the effort
demanded from the occupant or attendant using the chair. Pushing up
a steep slope, which extends over a distance, may create a need to
stop and rest, which in turn demands additional and undesirable effort
to start back upwards again. Stopping a wheelchair on a steep
downward slope also demands effort and control, and surface
conditions need to be taken into account when deciding what outdoor
route to take. Manoeuvres, which demand over exertion, may create
risk of injury to the user and should be avoided. However, if in
temporary difficulty, wheelchair users should not hesitate in asking for
assistance from people nearby, someone will usually be happy to help.
Modern buildings should have slopes built to a required standard
angle, but this is not the case with all access areas. Learning the
geography of an area is important. As an all round guide, a maximum
safe slope of 8 degrees is our recommendation for the Remploy range
of manually propelled wheelchairs. However this recommendation may
need to be changed if the wheelchair has attachments added to it,
such as an elevating legrest or carry bag, which adversely affects
stability. Such changes to the chair specification may have a critical
effect, and they require re-assessment by a rehabilitation professional.
SAFE SLOPE OF 8 DEGREES FOR MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS
Where possible, the hazard of negotiating steps should be avoided.
Many falls and injuries to both occupant and helper can occur when
inexperienced people are carrying out this operation, and if users or
carers are concerned about a particular hazard in the usage
environment, which they must regularly overcome, they should consult
their wheelchair rehabilitation service, or community services
department., as appropriate.
There may still be occasions when steps must be negotiated.
see figs
7, 8 & 9.
