Section Trans 300.76 - Power lift or ramps(1) Every school bus transporting persons in wheelchairs shall be equipped with either a power lift or ramp which utilizes the special service opening specified in s. Trans 300.75.(2) If a school bus uses a ramp it shall have a nonslip material on the surface or may have a metal nonslip surface construction. The ramp shall be in a secured position while the bus is in motion. The ramp shall be at least 30 inches wide on the surface.(3) A power lift may be of varying design and operation. A lift may be designed to cause only minor vehicle design change other than for the special service opening, or a different design lift may be built to raise or lower through the floor of the vehicle. Each of these designs shall have a minimum lifting capacity of 700 pounds. A label stating that the lift meets this requirement shall be either permanently affixed to the power lift in a visible location or the information may be permanently stamped in a visible location.(4) The power source and mechanism of the lift shall be enclosed.(5) The platform of the power lift shall be covered with nonslip material or it may be of nonslip construction. The surface shall be at least 30 inches wide.(6) Every platform of a power lift shall be designed and constructed to prevent any movement when it is in the stored position. This requirement may be met by either a mechanical locking device or by the internal design of the lift.(7) The power lift shall be so designed that the operator has positive control to move, stop, or reverse the lift travel at will. In addition, the lift shall be controlled by a limit switch or by-pass valve which will immediately stop the direction of travel upon contact with the ground or a foreign object.(8) The power lift shall be so designed that the platform does not fall in the event of a power failure.(9) The platform shall have a device on the curb side to prevent any wheelchair from rolling off when the lift is in any horizontal position other than at ground level.(10) The power lift shall be designed to prevent the operator or the person being transported from becoming entangled or crushed during the lift operation.(11) When in the stored position, every power lift or ramp and its associated super structure shall have all exposed sharp edges, corners, and projecting parts padded to prevent injury in the event of contact in an accident. This requirement does not apply to the platform surface but shall apply to the sides of the platform if they are exposed and not concealed by a padded super structure or a padded barrier.(12) If the lift does not include a padded super structure, the top of the door opening shall be covered with padding at least 2 inches high the entire width of the door opening.(13) The lift control shall be interlocked with the vehicle brakes, transmission or door, or shall provide other appropriate mechanisms or systems, to ensure that the vehicle cannot be moved when the lift is not stowed and so the lift cannot be deployed unless the interlocks or systems are engaged.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Transportation Trans 300.76
Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (1), (3), (11), Cr. (12), (13), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (11), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.