Risk analysis for operating active wheelchairs in non-urban settings

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Active wheelchairs are manually propelled devices designed to maximize mobility for individuals with walking limitations.
• These wheelchairs offer enhanced user mobility but often involve inherent instability.
• Understanding associated risks is crucial for user safety and effective device utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and rank potential incidents that pose health risks to active wheelchair users.
• To assess factors that may reduce mobility for individuals with ambulatory disabilities using active wheelchairs in outdoor environments.
• To establish a hierarchy of hazards specific to non-urban active wheelchair use.

Main Methods:

• Data collection involved interviews with individuals with disabilities using active wheelchairs.
• A questionnaire was employed to gather comprehensive information on wheelchair-related incidents.
• Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) was utilized for systematic data evaluation.

Main Results:

• A prioritized list of hazards encountered by active wheelchair users was generated.
• Each identified hazard was assigned a numerical priority based on its significance.
• The analysis provides a clear understanding of the most critical risks.

Conclusions:

• An ordered hazard list is valuable for the design of safer active wheelchairs.
• This hazard hierarchy can inform training programs for improving wheelchair riding techniques.
• Prioritizing risks enhances both user safety and functional mobility.