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Improving Mobility on the Farm Improving Mobility on the Farm or Ranchor Ranch
Robert Stuthridge B.Sc., M.Sc.Ergonomist
National AgrAbility ProjectPurdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN
Agenda
• Importance of mobility
• Barriers to mobility
• Possible improvements and solutions
• Discussion
Importance of mobility
• A farmer/rancher who does not have relatively easy access to crops, livestock, and facilities can experience losseslosses due to inadequate supervision of their operation.
• These losses represent a competitive competitive disadvantagedisadvantage.
• There are also quality of lifequality of life issues involved.
Barriers to mobility • Attention in urban
settings to improving access: – Curb cuts– Elevators– Lifts– paved walkways– ramps
• Problematic in farming/ranching – different terrain types in varying weather conditions.
Barriers to mobility
Farmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Long distances Long distances
between work sitesbetween work sites
Barriers to mobility
Farmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Growing Growing
crops/vegetationcrops/vegetation
www.eatmorestrawberries.com
Barriers to mobility
Farmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Surface materials Surface materials
not suited to good not suited to good mobilitymobility
Barriers to mobility
Farmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Uneven/sloping Uneven/sloping
terrainterrain
Barriers to mobilityFarmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Fences and gatesFences and gates
Barriers to mobilityFarmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– Buildings and other Buildings and other
structuresstructures
Possible improvements and solutionsPersonal Mobility AidsPersonal Mobility Aids• Limitations: Personal mobility
aids alone cannot resolve every problem. E.g. wheelchair in deep mud.
• May need a combination of personal mobility aids and site improvements
• How far we go depends on • feasibility • finances• wishes of the farmer• demands of the job.
Personal Mobility AidsManual wheelchairs:Manual wheelchairs: ProsProsLightweight manual wheelchairs
(e.g. ‘sports’ models) are:• Easily maneuverable • Require less energy to move
compared with standard-weight chairs
• Wheelchairs designed for off-road use, (e.g. Invacare Crossfire All-Terrain) may suit farmers best.
Personal Mobility AidsManual wheelchairs: Manual wheelchairs:
ConsCons• Manual wheelchairs less
useful for long distances or unaccommodating ground.
• In bad weather - hand rims may be slippery.
• For better traction in snow, baler twine can be used like tire chains - easily cut off when not required.
Personal Mobility Aids
Lever propulsion manual chairsLever propulsion manual chairs e.g. Jouleflow Blade Drive (1 or 2 handed propulsion) and Wijit (2 handed) eliminate rim use.
Click image for Jouleflow video
Personal Mobility AidsManual wheelchairs: Other Manual wheelchairs: Other considerationsconsiderationsMag/alloy or spoke rims? - Alloys are lighter- spoke rims provide better shock absorption.Solid or pneumatic tires? -Weight, shock absorption, - puncture resistance.Tire liners to resist punctures?- Plastic/Kevlar liners: but reduce shock absorption- Polyurethane foam: lightweight, good shock absorption
Personal Mobility AidsPowered wheelchairsPowered wheelchairsNot all powered chairs are suited to farms
Look for:• high torque• all wheel drive (ideally)• adequate ground clearance• tires for rough terrain• shock-absorbing seat suspension• armrests• all weather seats
Power sources:• battery/electric – allowed in public buildings but may not offer long range (solar power ‘charge on-the-go’ system)• Gas – greater range but prohibited in public buildings
Magic Mobility X8 Frontier
Tracabout IRV 2000 CadWeazle
Personal Mobility Aids
Standing wheelchairsStanding wheelchairsEnable user to adopt standing posture.
1. Helps with some tasks, including workshop activities.
2. Improves viewing over obstructions/fences.
3. Improves blood flow - may offer other health benefits.
The Standing Company Superstand
Personal Mobility Aids
ATVsATVs• Compared with
powered wheelchairs:
1. Have longer range2. Cope with most
terrain/conditions3. Faster4. Carry passengers
and/or materials5. Can power
implements (mainly towing)
www.abby-usa.com
www.iowafarmequipment.com
Personal Mobility AidsTrucksTrucks• Almost ‘standard equipment’ on
most farms.• May be fitted with powered lifts.• May be adapted for hand control
of all functions.www.lifeessentialsweb.com
Possible improvements and solutions
Site improvements – main aspectsSite improvements – main aspects1. Planning routes
2. Ramps and lifts
3. Gates
4. Substrates
Site improvements
Planning routesPlanning routes
Distances traveled between buildings?
Orientation of doorways and provision of alternative access points?
Sheltered route?
Use existing paved routes?
Site improvementsRamps and liftsRamps and liftsChoose either lift or ramp, with features and construction materials to suit each situation. Ideally comply with ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Retain steps, where feasible:• Ramps not ideal for some people with walking impairments. • Lifts may suffer breakdown or power failure.
www.ada.gov
Site improvementsGatesGates• Automatic – solar powered• Can open gates up to 20’
and weighing up to 1,000 pounds.
• Trickle charge battery operation using 10w or 20w solar panel.
www.gtoinc.com
Site Improvements
SubstratesSubstratesIncompatibility of wheelchairs and soft substrate. Solution may involve changes to wheelchair, substrate, or both.
Changes to the wheelchair:
1. Fitting high flotation tires. Reduce sinking.2. Use a wheelchair with high ground clearance
and high grip tires.3. Use a foam or air cushion to reduce shocks
to the spine.
Site ImprovementsChanges to the substrate. Common solutions:Changes to the substrate. Common solutions:1. Retain and compact substrate. Reduce voids
using different grades of material, then pressure/vibratory compaction. Routine re-compaction may be necessary.
2. Pave using concrete or asphalt. 3. Reinforce the substrate structure using
resin/chemical binders.4. For soft earth, stabilize using a cellular
confinement system immediately beneath the substrate surface, which is then grassed over, e.g. ‘TuffTrack’ or GrassPave2
5. Provide a stable synthetic surface over unstable substrate. Porous pavement panels, e.g. GeoBlock, or rolls. If unchecked, vegetation will grow through such systems.
• TuffTrack System. NDS, Inc. http://www.ndspro.com/cms/index.php/15-LANDSCAPE/TUFF-TRACK-GRASS-ROAD-PAVERS.html
• GeoBlock. Soil Stabilization Products Company, Inc. http://sspco.com/geoblock/geoblock_OV.html
Site improvementsSubstrates: Route hardening Substrates: Route hardening Crushed stone or decorative gravel:
Pros1. Material and maintenance cost is low2. Surface is suitable for both pedestrian and
vehicular use3. Porous, reducing or eliminating risk of storm
water run-off.
Cons1. Small, thin wheels sink and act as brakes -
muscular strain risk increased. 2. Material may lodge between hand rim and tire,
causing hand injuries. 3. Coarse stone increases roughness of the ride.
May be rendered stable and more accessible for wheelchair users by installing a porous pavement system e.g. Gravelpave2