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Issue_H November 2013 17 Dash Life
The wheelchair must be secured to the floor by a restraint system, preferably
in line with direction of travel. The wheelchair should not be occupied by more
than one person. Fittings such as trays should be stowed separately.
Wheelchairs used for transportation of occupants in vehicles should have a full
height backrest of at least 415 mm for adults, head supports are
recommended.
11. TIE DOWN PROCEDURE
R Healthcare recommend Unwin Tie Down and Occupant Restraints.
Unwin’s provide in depth training courses for the application of their
products which meet the ISO 10542 standards, and have a proven test
record with the R Healthcare wheelchair range.
We recommend that persons responsible for securing wheelchairs in vehicles
attend an Unwin training course, or any other informative training applicable to
the usage environment.
Restraint systems should only be fitted in specially adapted vehicles, where
the structure has been strengthened to take wheelchair location points. Details
of Unwin systems we have tested are as follows. There are similar products
available from other suppliers, which we know, have also been tested
satisfactorily, and if used these should be applied as per the supplier’s
recommendation.
The following reference covers Unwin chair restraints only.
WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT TYPE UNWIN PART NO.
DASH 4 LIFE 4 Point Webbing with Karabiner W120
The model Dash 4 Life has been crashed tested successfully to ISO
7176-19 which is for forward facing with tie downs, and relevant
certificates are in the technical information manual.
Wheelchair Seat Belts and Posture Belts are not crash tested restraints,
although they help keep an occupant in a preferred position during
normal vehicle motion. To meet crash safety standards, wheelchair and
occupant must be secured to the vehicle independently. The occupant
restraint should be secured directly to the vehicle at a point above
shoulder height. No component of a wheelchair restraint should pass
through the wheels. Wheelchair restraints should secure the wheelchair
in such a manner that they cannot become free if chair components
deform, or if one or more tyres deflate. Under no circumstances should
wheelchairs be modified or strained to allow installation of clamps or
fittings.
Tie Down Point labels on all R Healthcare supplied chairs indicate the correct
position to attach karabiner type chair restraints. Continuous product improvement
has resulted in new design chairs having specific tie down karabiner locations to
enable correct and easy attachment by the transport operator.
The side-view projected
angle for the rear tiedown
straps is between 30°and
40° from the horizontal.
The side-view
projected angle for the
front tiedown straps is
between 40° and 60
The rear-view
projected angle of
the rear tiedown
straps is within 10°
of the wheelchair
reference plane.
The
front-view projected
angle of the front tiedown
straps is within 25° of the
wheelchair reference plane,
but angled so as to provide
some lateral stability to the
wheelchair.
Rear Tie Down Bracket
Colour - Orange
Through the
armrest and
over the side
frame.