Guidance on the Safe Use of Wheelchairs and Vehicle-mounted Passenger Lifts - DB 2003(03)

Executive Summary
This document replaces the earlier MDA publication DB9606 'Wheelchair & Vehicle Passenger Lifts: Safe Working Practices'. Since 1996 the number of wheelchair users and vehicles fitted with lifts for wheelchair access has increased. MDA has received a small number of reports of incidents involving injury or death of wheelchair users whilst entering or exiting vehicles via a passenger lift. To reflect this, DB9606 has been reviewed and revised with input from users, carers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, vehicle converters, Department for Transport (DfT) and service providers. It is intended to supplement the MDA guidance on the safe transportation of wheelchairs issued in DB2001(03).

This new document includes guidance on the use of lifts and wheelchairs, including:

• risk assessment and management
• safety guards and handrails
• warning signs and labels
• training
• siting of the vehicle
• lift operation
• wheelchairs
• maintenance
• health and safety
• adverse incident reporting.