The Civil Aviation (Access to Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility) Regulations 2007 came into force on 26 July 2007. These provide an enforcement regime in the UK for European Regulation (EC) No.1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air. The Regulations are enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will assist individuals to pursue civil cases.
Although HSE does not enforce this legislation, Transportation Section has worked with DfT, CAA and industry to develop the new guidance and Code of Practice to ensure that occupational health and safety issues for ground handlers and passengers are identified and addressed. Inspectors should contact the Section if they have any queries. Overall responsibility for ensuring adequate services are provided now rests with the airport authority.
The legislation applies to any disabilities including hearing and sight etc. However, this SIM is intended to address manual handling risks associated with routine transfer of incapacitated or wheelchair-using passengers to and from the aircraft. It identifies the methods and equipment that we would expect to see employed. It also identifies practices that should be avoided. Inspectors should refer to the DfT Code of Practice, as this contains a considerable amount of useful information and links to other relevant guidance and standards.
1 Assisting disabled passengers and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) and handling heavy equipment such as wheelchairs can pose significant risks to the health and safety of both airport workers and passengers. These include the risk of back injuries, sprains and strains (MSDs) and risks of slips, trips and falls when carrying heavy or awkward loads.
2 This SIM provides advice to inspectors for assessing the measures that have been put in place to assist disabled passengers and PRMs on and off aircraft. It covers those passengers who are less mobile or require use of a wheelchair, including passengers who become incapacitated in flight, or have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
3 The guidance applies to all routine situations, and also outlines good practice that should be followed as far as possible in non-routine or emergency situations. In the case of unforeseen medical emergencies or emergency evacuation of aircraft, contingency plans should be available, and staff should be trained in those aspects of emergency situations for which they may have responsibility.
4 Assisting disabled passengers and PRMs includes handling of passengers throughout the airport, transfer of the passenger between wheelchairs and from wheelchair to aircraft seat, assistance with luggage, checking in, travelling to departure gates, and handling and loading of equipment such as wheelchairs. All of these may present manual handling and other risks and should be part of the employers risk assessment and training procedures where necessary.
5 Inspectors may find guidance on patient lifting in the health services useful in identifying good practice in lifting and handling.
6..The new regulations place the overall duty for ensuring provision of services and assistance to disabled passengers and PRMs on the managing bodies of airports, or the airport operators. Individual airports may provide services themselves or, more likely, contract the service out to ground handling companies.
Health and safety standards and good practice
7 Inspectors should consider the following 4 general aspects of procedures for assisting disabled passengers and PRMs:
Task design and planning;
The load;
Equipment;
Training.
Task design and planning