TRANSPORTATION
Routine maintenance of wheelchair and occupant restraints saves money and improves safety By Dennis Stokes
As a school transportation profession-
cuts or fraying of the webbing. Any dam-
Next, inspect the restraint compo-
al, you no doubt transport students in
aged components should be replaced
nents for damage to the webbing and
wheelchairs every day. But have you in-
before beginning the route. Never try to
hardware.
cluded your wheelchair tie-down equip-
repair webbing or hardware.
components should be replaced imme-
As before, any damaged
ment in your routine maintenance plans?
Lastly, drivers should make sure re-
diately. If the webbing is dirty, it can be
Maintenance for this often-overlooked
straints are stowed properly when not in
cleaned with a soft brush using a mild
equipment is relatively simple and inex-
use. Wall-mounted pouches provide a
soap with warm water.
pensive in time and money costs.
Make sure all
clean place to store equipment and keep
webbing is completely dry before return-
Your maintenance plan should encom-
it out of the way for easier movement of
ing the component to service.
pass three aspects; daily driver inspec-
wheelchairs and ambulatory passengers.
If needed, moving parts can be lubri-
tion, care during routine vehicle mainte-
Remember, equipment lying loose on
cated with a high-quality spray lubricant
nance, and planned replacement.
the floor can become unguided missiles
that meets your equipment manufac-
1) Daily Driver Inspection should fo-
during sudden braking or an accident.
turer’s specification.
cus on having the proper equip-
2) When buses come in for routine
les should never be lubricated. Finally,
ment and making sure equipment
maintenance, attention to wheel-
check the manufacture date on the com-
is in good working order to per-
chair equipment is just as impor-
ponent tags and replace any equipment
form up to specification.
tant as changing the oil or brake
older than your scheduled replacement
inspections.
cycle.
Drivers should begin each day by mak-
However, buck-
ing sure each wheelchair position has
Start by inspecting the track to make
3) Developing a scheduled replace-
at least four chair tie-downs and a lap/
sure it is clear of dirt and debris. If neces-
ment cycle for wheelchair and oc-
shoulder belt set for occupant restraint.
sary, clean the track with a stiff brush and
cupant restraints is a great way to
All of these components should be of
compressed air. Never clean the track
insure that your equipment doesn’t
the same manufacturer and of the same
with water, as this could cause mud to
equipment series.
collect in the track and prevent restraints
How frequently you replace equip-
outlive its usefulness.
Next, each component should be
from latching properly. All track-mount-
ment depends on how often it’s used
checked to make sure all buckles and
ing hardware should be checked to make
and the environment you work in. For ex-
latches work properly and there are no
sure it is properly tightened.
ample, snowy conditions and extremes
At left: Storage pouches keep equipment clean and out of the way when not in use. Below: Manufacturer’s identification tag showing a manufacture date.
54
Ops Talk • Spring 2013
