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

Barriers to mobilityFarmers with mobility problems have to deal with:– The weatherThe weather

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

Discussion