Too often a wheelchair van or wheelchair accessible bus comes into our shop for lift service and, when we look inside, we see a tangle of wheelchair tie down straps and seat belts strewn about the floor of the van. Unfortunately, when we see this we know that the individuals being transported in the vehicle are not being secured properly. We always make it a point to bring it to the attention of the organization so that the situation can be remedied.
While these situations are unfortunate, at the same time, it is important to note that there are other organizations that are very diligent about safety in their wheelchair vans and buses and call us to ask for replacement straps, belts and tie downs to keep their vehicles up-to-date.
Unfortunately, wheelchair tie downs and occupant restraints are confusing, as there are several brands and many styles to choose from. To further complicate matters, there are not as many standards as one would expect, so this makes interchangeability a concern.
Do you Need Replacements?
Often times, it is common for a particular strap or belt to go missing from your wheelchair van or bus. When this happens, that strap or belt must be replaced. Wheelchair tie downs come in sets where all parts must be used if you are to be using them properly. If parts are missing and your staff has not brought this to your attention, it usually means that they are not using the complete system. Most often it is the occupant restraint — lap and shoulder belt — that is not in use.
In other cases, the straps, or “webbing” as it is called, begin to fray at the edges resulting in a weakened state. While this at first is not a big problem, over time they may fray more and become too weak for their intended use.
How do I get the Right Parts?
As stated above, there are many parts, pieces and brands of wheelchair tie downs. For this reason, interchangeability can become a concern. In order to ensure that you get the right parts, you must first make a list of what you have. The best way to do this is to set the tie downs up in the wheelchair van or accessible bus and identify the parts that are missing. Make a list of the parts you have with a note as to what is missing. Most of the straps, belts and tie downs will have a label with a part number. If you provide this to us, we will be able to quickly determine the correct parts to send you.
If the equipment you have is particularly old, it may not have part numbers. In this case, it is best to take digital pictures of the tie down system in the van or accessible bus and email it to us.
Be sure to let us know what style of floor anchorage is in use and whether or not your seat belts are connected to the floor or just to the wheelchair tie downs. Either way is fine but they each do require different products.
Of course, if you are close to one of our locations, you can stop in and we can have our specialists take a look at your securement system.
Consider Upgrades
Within the last five years, there have been many improvements made to the wheelchair tie downs and occupant restraints available in the market. The new products are much easier to use and enable your staff to do a better job of securing your clients properly. We have found that these upgrades are much appreciated by the staff, make them more productive and reduce your risk of liability.
Invest in Training
When you have a need for new parts or upgrades to existing equipment, it is an excellent time to do staff training. Properly training your staff to secure your clients properly will not only protect you from liability, but will also reduce frustration and make the staff more productive on the job.
While there are many videos, workbooks and training tools available for you to train people on your own or you can hire VCI Mobility to do the job. Either way, training wheelchair van and bus drivers and staff in wheelchair and occupant securement is a wise investment.
Check out the Floor Track
Often overlooked, the condition of the floor track will have an impact on the performance of your wheelchair tie down system. If the tracks are damaged, rusty or full of sand and dirt, the strap cannot be placed properly and will be at risk for an unwanted release.
Don’t Forget Safety Equipment
While you are at it, be sure that your wheelchair van or bus contains safety equipment such as web cutters that are used to free an occupant in an event such as an accident where the tie downs cannot be easily released. In addition, you should be sure to check the fire extinguisher and make sure that the first aid kit and road warning triangles are stocked in the wheelchair vehicle. All of these items are relatively inexpensive items.
Let Us Help
For a reasonable fee, we will inspect your wheelchair van or wheelchair accessible bus — or even your whole fleet — to ensure that you have complete tie down sets, proper safety equipment and adequate storage areas. In addition, we can conduct training classes for your staff and have them receive certifications when they have shown their ability to properly secure and release wheelchair users from the wheelchair tie down systems. We can do this training at your facility or ours. Typically, we would prefer to do the training with your vehicles, as that is what your staff would be accustomed to using.