Safety and Maintenance Checklist and Standards For Wheelchairs

9 min readMay 20, 2022

A wheelchair can be a big investment, so you want to be sure that your chair stays in good condition for as long as possible.

The first thing to do when you receive your wheelchair is to read the user instructions and take all necessary measures to proof your chair from damage, wear and tear, or the elements. You should also follow any training on safety and maintenance specific to your new wheelchair provided by your wheelchair supplier.

It is worthwhile finding a reliable mechanic or support provider who has the appropriate training and accreditations to maintain your chair before you may need them in an emergency.

Using your wheelchair safely

Always lock the brakes before entering and exiting the wheelchair.
Always turn off electric wheelchairs before transferring in and out to save battery and to prevent anyone knocking the joystick during transfer, creating a dangerous situation.
Raise the footrests before you sit down or get up from your chair.
If your wheelchair has detachable armrests or legs, raise your arms and gently swing the leg rest away from the chair to ensure you are safe to manoeuvre.
Avoid loading too much weight onto the handles or back of the wheelchair — such as bags, groceries etc — as it’s possible this could cause the chair to tip backwards.
A wheelchair’s wheels and roll bars should not be removed. The frame of a wheelchair is designed to balance, and these elements keep the chair from tipping backwards.
Ensure nothing gets caught in the wheels as this could cause the wheelchair to come to a sudden stop and could damage the wheel or frame. Move things such as lap blankets away from the spokes of the wheel and keep an eye out for hazards such as low branches.
Allowing children to play on manual or electric wheelchairs can be dangerous — do not let them operate the controls of an electric wheelchair and do not let them play unsupervised.
When travelling on the road in an electric wheelchair, attach a flag to your chair so vehicles can see you.
Ensure your chair has sufficient lighting (headlights and tail lights) if using it at night, an where possible choose a brightly coloured chair, wear brightly coloured clothing, and/or ensure you have reflective strips on your chair and/or clothes for high visibility.
Avoid driving an electric wheelchair up or down steep slopes or hills — you could lose control and tilt the chair over. Likewise you could lose control of a manual wheelchair if self-propelling up or down a steep hill, which could prove dangerous without sufficient brakes.
Pay attention to the launcher’s rhythm — this is the term for the lateral movement of the wheel that occurs at high speeds. If the wheels start to vibrate, replace them right away.
Make sure your power chair is set to drive no faster than you can safely manage, particularly while reversing or turning.
It is best to avoid driving in the rain. Wheelchairs are neither watertight nor secure. On damp surfaces, the controls on motorized wheelchairs get wet, and the wheels lose grip.
Be cautious and consider how to avoid problems before they arise. Prepare for unexpected events like brake failure, reverse tipping, or the power chair moving on its own.

Keeping your wheelchair in good condition

The latest wheelchairs may have fewer potential issues through improved design and functionality, but you should still pay attention to common wheelchair concerns. Regular maintenance will help you extend the life of your chair and cut down on the repairs you have to make, saving both money and the potential stress of having to deal with a damaged chair in an emergency situation.

It is critical to do checks and maintenance on your wheelchair on a regular basis to avoid many accidents and breakdowns. You will usually be the first to notice if your wheelchair isn’t working properly because you are the owner and user of it.

You may not be able to perform daily and weekly cleaning and maintenance on your own, but you can design a regimen for caregivers, family members, or others to follow to check your wheelchair for damage or wear and tear. Cleaning the chair, monitoring tyre wear and air pressure, tightening screws, and inspecting the pads, pads, wear positioning equipment, and other elements are all part of regular maintenance.

You must take care of minor issues as well as large repairs to keep your wheelchair in good condition. While you and your caregivers may not be able to perform repairs, you can contribute to the smooth operation and maintenance of your wheelchair by familiarizing yourself with potential issues before they become a problem and keeping a list of reliable repair providers on hand.

RehabPulse offers in-home services to repair your mobility scooter, manual or power wheelchair, lift chairs, patient lifts and more — whether you purchased them from RehabPulse or another retailer.

The care and maintenance of your wheelchair begins the day it is delivered. Read your warranty and talk to your service provider about your wheelchair’s maintenance. You will be better prepared to deal with any problems that emerge if you have the following information and tools:

The owner’s manual contains important information — it explains how to look after your wheelchair, as well as the things that are covered by the guarantee, and the tools you’ll need to do simple maintenance. Keep your user guide safe and refer to it frequently.
Ensure you have the tools you’ll need for maintenance in a tool kit that you can keep with you when using the wheelchair, in case of emergencies. This could include: a flathead screwdriver, a set of allen keys, an adjustable wrench, a spoke wrench, and a tyre repair kit.
Keep crucial contact information and emergency numbers on a card or in a notebook. This card can be laminated and stowed away in a wheelchair (to ensure the safety of children or other vulnerable people). At least one of the following items must be present in the data:

o Your name as well as at least one emergency contact — spouse, partner, family member, close friend — plus addresses and phone numbers;

o Name and telephone number of your physician;

o Wheelchair manufacturer’s name, model, and phone number (toll-free, if possible);

o Name and phone number of your local wheelchair dealer or supplier who will service your chair;

o The public emergency number or a reliable private wheelchair transport service’s phone number.

Maintaining wheelchairs of all types

Cleaning your wheelchair not only keeps you healthy and infection-free, but it also makes it easier to notice any potential equipment issues.
Wipe the surfaces of your wheelchair with a moist towel to keep it clean. For stains and sticky spots use a mild detergent — a harsher detergent may react with the materials of the wheelchair so only use this if it is necessary and you know it is safe to do so.
The use of vehicle wax on the frame is frequently recommended by manufacturers to aid in regular maintenance.
Clean the wheel hub or wheel bearing completely with a sharp tool or pickaxe to remove any build-up of hair, thread, or other material that could affect wheel rotation.
Examine the frame for metal cracks or breaks. Any potential issues should be reported to your wheelchair dealer, who will take care of them.
Check for wear or tears where the fabric flexes or where there are screws through the fabric in the upholstery. The store is responsible for fixing fabric wear and tear issues.
If you use a seat cushion, make sure to continually assess if it still provides the padding and support you require as these will lose their shape over time.
Instead of using petroleum oil to lubricate your wheelchair’s flex points, try a general-purpose silicone-based lubricant.
Check that the wheel lock engages and disengages properly and that it is not rubbing on the tyre. The lock must be capable of being triggered and deactivated without the use of excessive force.
When the casters (front wheels) are old, they may become worn, misaligned, or out of shape which can pose a danger — ensure to check these and replace if needed.
Check your wheels for spoke cracks, which can cause the wheel to sag over time.
Another routine task is to double-check that all of the chair’s nuts and bolts are secure (except for the pin on the crosspiece).
If you need to replace parts, be sure they fit the manufacturer’s and retailer’s specifications.
Regularly check that all foldable, pivoting, rotating, and detachable elements may be removed with ease.
Regularly check that armrests, footrests, clamps, and other similar items can be moved or removed as expected.
The crossbar should bend readily without becoming stuck.
The middle pin should be able to move around easily (the screw is never tight).
Wheelchairs with reclining backrests or recline mechanisms should be able to recline and return to a standing position without difficulty.

Maintaining power wheelchair

Make sure that the moving parts of your electric wheelchair do not become tangled up in wires and cables — and you should regularly check that all electrical connections are secure and free of corrosion and debris.
If any wires are disconnected or removed, make sure they are reconnected in the proper location. To help limit mistakes relating to wiring, most power chairs use color-coded wires. A faulty cable connection can cause serious burns and damage to your wheelchair.

Maintaining the battery on an electric wheelchair

A maintenance requirement specific to power wheelchairs is keeping the batteries in top working condition. Wheelchair batteries come in wet/liquid and gel variations.

If you keep your batteries charged, they will last longer and perform better. If the battery indicates that it has less than half the charge remaining, connect the charger as soon as possible. For precise charging instructions, contact the battery manufacturer.
Every two months, wet batteries must be filled up with distilled water — the minerals in tap water may damage the battery.
If the water level falls below the level of the battery plates, the battery will be irreparably damaged. However, a wet battery should not be over-filled or over-charged.
Only fill the hole to about 1/8 inch below the ring’s surface. To get a better view of the water level, use a flashlight.
When a battery is overcharged, battery acid leaks out, damaging the battery terminals quickly. Because the water level rises as the battery charges, be sure to follow the instructions correctly when filling the batter with distilled water.
Even for a fit, able-bodied person, adding water is usually a challenging task. The batteries are cumbersome and difficult to remove. As a result, wheelchair users are frequently unable to replenish their water bottles. RehabPulse can provide this service to powerchair users.
Make sure you don’t use metal to short-circuit the battery posts. Sparks can trigger an explosion by igniting the battery gas.
Do not inhale fumes from the battery, and do not allow battery acid to come into contact with your skin and eyes. Wear goggles and gloves to protect your hands and eyes.
Many of the issues that come with using wet batteries are avoided by using gel batteries. You will never run out of water or face issues with rust.
For air travel, wet cell batteries must be taken from the wheelchair and placed in a sealed container, but this is not the case with gel batteries, making them significantly easier to transport on a flight.
The main disadvantage with gel batteries is that they have 10–20% less capacity than wet batteries. This is usually only relevant for long-distance travellers.
Gel batteries are also more expensive, and Medicare does not cover this cost in full.
If you want to switch battery types, make sure the charger is compatible with the new battery type. Many older chargers will not charge a gel battery effectively. The battery type is selected by a switch on most new chargers.

RehabPulse offers in-home services to repair your mobility scooter, manual or power wheelchair, lift chairs, patient lifts and more — whether you purchased them from RehabPulse or another retailer. For more information on the services we provide, call our team now on 1–877–234–2018.

Resource : https://rehabpulse.com/blog/safety-and-maintenance-checklist-and-standards-for-wheelchairs/