Carrying out maintenance and repair activities on assistive technology
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out maintenance activities on assistive technology systems and equipment, in accordance with approved procedures. This will involve dismantling, removing and replacing or repairing faulty components, in line with company procedures, on a variety of different types of assistive technology systems and equipment, such as manual and powered wheelchairs, buggies and scooters, postural support systems, hoists, personal communication aids, walking aids, adjustable beds, pressure relief and distribution equipment, telecare alarm systems, aids for daily living, environmental control systems, associated battery charging systems for assistive technology systems and equipment.
You will be expected to cover a range of maintenance activities, such as isolating equipment, labelling components, dismantling components to the required level, setting and adjusting components, replacing `lifed' items, replacing or repairing components, carrying out functional checks and safety checks before handing over to the end user.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the maintenance activities undertaken, and to report any problems with these activities, or with the tools and equipment used, that you cannot personally resolve or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people (such as the reporting of any actual or potential safety related problems to the appropriate regulatory body).
You must ensure that all tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance activities are removed from the work area on completion of the activities, and that all necessary job/task documentation is completed accurately and legibly. You will be expected to work to instructions, either alone or in conjunction with others, taking personal responsibility for your own actions, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work, and will enable you to adopt an informed approach to applying maintenance procedures to assistive technology equipment. You will have an understanding of dismantling and reassembly methods and procedures, and their application. You will know how the equipment functions and the purpose of individual components, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out any maintenance, repair or adjustment. In addition, you will have sufficient knowledge of these components to ensure that they are fit for purpose and meet the specifications, thus providing a sound basis for carrying out reassembly.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the maintenance activities, especially those for isolating the equipment. You will also understand your responsibilities for safety, and the importance of taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
P2 follow the relevant maintenance schedules to carry out the required work
P3 carry out the maintenance activities within the limits of your personal authority
P4 carry out the maintenance activities in the specified sequence and in an agreed timescale
P5 report any instances where the maintenance activities cannot be fully met or where there are identified defects outside the planned schedule
P6 complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements
P7 dispose of waste materials in line with organisational and environmentally safe procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
K2 the statutory and advisory documentation relating to medical devices
K3 the appropriate working practices, and the need to respect the patient and carer in the patient environment, at home or in the community (where appropriate)
K4 the importance of reporting any ‘adverse incidents’ with equipment, to the regulatory authority
K5 the importance of wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and of keeping the work area clean and tidy
K6 how to obtain and interpret information from job instructions and other documentation used in the maintenance activities
K7 methods of checking that components are fit for purpose, how to identify defects and wear characteristics, and the need to replace ‘lifed’ items
K8 the basic principles of how the equipment functions, its operating sequence, the working purpose of individual units/components and how they interact
K9 the care and use of measuring or diagnostic equipment
K10 the techniques used to dismantle/reassemble mechanical/electromechanical equipment
K11 methods of removing and replacing components without causing damage to the equipment or other components
K12 how to make adjustments to components/assemblies to ensure that they function correctly
K13 the importance of making visual checks before using or operating the equipment
K14 the importance of carrying out electrical safety tests on medical equipment, and the implications if this is not carried out
K15 how to check that tools and equipment are free from damage or defects, are in a safe and usable condition, and are configured correctly for the intended purpose
K16 the importance of completing maintenance documentation and/or reports following the maintenance activity, and how to generate them
K17 the equipment operating and control procedures to be applied during the maintenance activity
K18 how to use lifting and handling equipment in the maintenance activity
K19 the issues that can occur when carrying out routine maintenance, and what to do if they occur
K20 the organisational procedure(s) to be adopted for the safe disposal of waste of all types of materials
K21 the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
1 Carry out all of the following during the maintenance activities:
1.1 plan the maintenance activities so as to minimise disruption to normal working
1.2 use the correct issue of company and/or manufacturers' drawings and maintenance documentation
1.3 adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
1.4 ensure the correct equipment decontamination procedure has been adhered to before and after the maintenance activity (where appropriate)
1.5 provide safe access and working arrangements for the maintenance area
1.6 ensure that the equipment is safe to work on before carrying out maintenance activities
1.7 carry out the maintenance activities, using appropriate techniques and procedures
1.8 return the equipment to service on completion of the maintenance activities
1.9 record the results of the scheduled servicing activity
1.10 report or take action with regard to any defects that require immediate attention (such as replacing non-`lifed' components)
1.11 dispose of waste items in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner, and leave the work area in a safe condition
2 Carry out maintenance activities on two of the following types of assistive technology systems and equipment:
2.1 manual wheelchairs, buggies and wheeled commodes
2.2 powered wheelchairs and scooters
2.3 powered aids for daily living (such as bath lifts, riser and recliner chairs)
2.4 pressure redistribution and relief devices (such as alternating pressure cushions, mattresses and overlays)
2.5 environmental control systems (such as telephones, intercom systems, remote controlled equipment)
2.6 walking aids and other non powered aids for daily living (such as kitchen aids, grab rails and shower seats)
2.7 posture support systems (such as modular and custom made)
2.8 hoists
2.9 adjustable beds
2.10 personal communication aids
2.11 telecare alarm systems
3 Carry out twelve of the following maintenance activities, as applicable to the equipment being maintained:
3.1 isolating the equipment
3.2 replacing damaged/defective/missing components
3.3 checking components for serviceability
3.4 repairing damaged or defective components
3.5 dismantling/disconnecting equipment to the appropriate level
3.6 soldering and de-soldering
3.7 replacing all `lifed' items
3.8 checking the condition of warning labels
3.9 setting and adjusting components
3.10 tightening fastenings to the required torque
3.11 replacing or checking lubricants
3.12 disconnecting and reconnecting wires and cables
3.13 making visual checks before functional testing or powering up
3.14 checking cable identification markers
3.15 carrying out electrical safety tests using the appropriate equipment
3.16 removing electrical/electronic units/components
3.17 functionally testing the maintained equipment
3.18 removing mechanical units/components
4 Replace or repair a range of components, to include ten of the following:
4.1 cables and connectors
4.2 motors
4.3 wheels
4.4 electronic modules
4.5 hydraulic units
4.6 hoses/pipework
4.7 overload protection devices
4.8 drive belts
4.9 battery chargers
4.10 power supplies
4.11 pulleys
4.12 seating
4.13 actuators
4.14 seals
4.15 posture supports
4.16 timers
4.17 valves
4.18 pressure relief covers, interlinings or mattresses
4.19 display/indication units
4.20 pumps
4.21 bulbs or LEDs
4.22 bearings
4.23 lifting slings
4.24 locking and retaining devices
4.25 gauges
4.26 structural components (such as bed or wheelchair frames)
4.27 posture belts
4.28 brake assemblies
4.29 switches
4.30 foot supports
4.31 guards or casings
4.32 sensors
4.33 control levers
4.34 upholstery
4.35 transformers
4.36 interface devices
5 Service assistive technology equipment to one of the following quality and accuracy standards:
5.1 organisational guidelines and codes of practice
5.2 equipment manufacturer's instructions
6 Complete one from the following, and pass it to the appropriate people:
6.1 job cards
6.2 servicing logs or reports
6.3 other specific documentation
6.4 electronic reports