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All hydraulic lifts have some type of manual
back-up device. If the lift fails, there is a
manual system allowing the MAVO to raise
or lower the lift by hand. Most utilize the
hand pump method. There should be a
handle along with a place to insert the hand
pump. To lower the lift manually, turn the
handle to release the hydraulic pressure
valve allowing gravity to take over. To raise
the lift, crank the handle, like a jack.
The manual back-up procedure is to be
used in an immediate situation until repairs
can be made. This method is available to
allow the MAVO to get their patient either in
or out of the vehicle as a last resort until
help arrives. The manual procedure should
never be used as the normal means of
loading and unloading patients.
If your MAV lift does not seem to work
appropriately, check the following:
-
Is the engine running? There may not be
enough power in the battery to work the lift.
-
Is the parking break on? In many vans, the lift
will only work if the parking break is on?
-
Is there a lift belt that is not buckled? Some
lifts will not raise or lower unless the belt on the
wheelchair lift is buckled.
Make sure your trainer shows you how to
manually load and unload a patient as
recommended by the manufacturer of the
lifts used by your company.
This manual procedure should not be
confused with a manual ramp. Some
vehicles are still equipped with manual
ramps which unfold by hand. If your
company still uses manual ramps, your
instructor or employer will show you the
correct and safe use of the ramp.
Loading the Patient
Manufacturing, installation, and operating
specifications for lifts made are established
by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA). Some lifts currently
in use are older than when the last
regulations went into effect in 2004. Using
the methods described in this manual along
with the lift-specific training by your
employer will minimize risk to both the
MAVO and the patient.
Turn off the engine and make sure you
engage the vehicle parking brake before
deploying the lift. Confirm that the area
where the lift will be deployed is clear of
obstacles and provides sufficient space.
Ideally, the lift will be deployed onto level
ground. If this is not the case, use extra
caution to position the patient on the lift and
when moving the patient on and off the lift.
When deploying the lift, stand clear and
unfold it then lower it to the ground
according to your lift manufacturer’s
directions. When you do this, the end of the
lift will automatically lower to the ground.
This end is called a
roll stop or outboard
barrier
. When the lift is raised off the
ground, the outboard barrier comes up to
prevent the patient from rolling off the end of
the lift when in motion. The outboard barrier
is meant to stop the small wheelchair wheel,
not the large one. In fact the large wheel on
a wheelchair, if moving with enough speed
can stop abruptly and toss the patient over
the outboard barrier. As a result, you should
never load the patient on a wheelchair lift
facing inward.
At the end of the lift closest to the vehicle
there is a
bridgeplate or inboard barrier
. It
does exactly what this implies. It bridges
between the vehicle and the lift, giving the
wheelchair a surface to roll across when
going into or out of the van. You may see
two types: one is attached to the vehicle, the
other is attached to the lift.