More Than Mobility – How One Conversation Could Improve Life for Thousands of Wheelchair Users

For twenty years, Lisa Ramos has dedicated herself to helping prevent other families experiencing what hers did.

A routine day at work changed her life forever when she was struck by a reversing forklift truck in a warehouse accident. The injuries were so severe that her left leg had to be amputated. Rather than allowing the accident to define her, Lisa chose to become a passionate advocate for workplace safety, speaking to businesses across the UK about the real human consequences of poor health and safety practices. See the BBC article here. 

When we recently met Lisa and her partner David at the Health & Safety Event 2026 where she was presenting,  we expected to talk about workplace safety...

Instead, we discovered an entirely different challenge.

The hidden problem with wheelchairs

Most wheelchair handles are designed around one simple assumption.

The wheelchair is pushed.

That sounds obvious until you begin speaking to people who live with disability every day.

Lisa explained that many people with lower-limb amputations or mobility impairments don't necessarily want to rely on a walking frame.

Walkers can encourage a stooped posture, are often associated with old age and, for many people, simply don't provide the confidence they need.

"Instead, many people use their wheelchair as a mobility aid."

Standing behind the chair, they hold the push handles while taking supported steps, safe in the knowledge that they can immediately sit down if they become tired.

It is an incredibly practical solution.

The problem?

Standard wheelchair handles are fixed at one height.

For some people they are too low, forcing them to hunch forwards.

For others they are too high.

Unlike handlebars on a bicycle or adjustable gym equipment, there is very little opportunity to tailor the wheelchair to the individual. 

Lisa and David at the iTip Safety Handles stand Health & Safety Show 2026. 

The impact on carers

David also described another challenge familiar to many carers.

Hours spent pushing a wheelchair often means working with bent wrists, raised shoulders and a rounded back.

Over time this can contribute to fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort.

Ironically, while carers are looking after somebody else's health, their own bodies are often paying the price.

It's a challenge that receives very little attention.

Could a simple handle make a big difference?

This is where Lisa immediately saw the potential for iTip Safety Handles.

Originally developed to improve manual handling on equipment such as wheelbarrows, roll cages and waste containers, the rotating ergonomic handles help users maintain a more natural wrist position while reducing unnecessary strain.

Applied to a wheelchair, they could offer several important benefits:

• A more comfortable grip for carers pushing over long distances.
• Better wrist and shoulder alignment.
• Greater comfort when manoeuvring around shops, airports and hospitals.
• Improved confidence for amputees and others who use the wheelchair as a walking aid during rehabilitation.
• A more adaptable solution for users of different heights.

Lisa immediately recognised something many designers overlook.

A wheelchair isn't simply transport.

For many people, it's part walking aid, part independence, part confidence and part safety equipment.

Listening before designing

One of the things that impressed us most during our conversation was Lisa's determination to help other wheelchair users.

Lisa wants to test and introduce other amputees and wheelchair users so we could hear their experiences. That is exactly how good design should happen, by listening to the people who use equipment every single day. Currently a set of iTip Safety Handles are on route to Lisa and we will report back on progress. 

Hygiene and Infection Control

Hygiene and infection control represent a critical consideration in healthcare environments. Instantly changeable handles offer a practical solution to prevent cross-contamination between patients and across different care settings. In hospitals, care homes and rehabilitation centres where wheelchairs move between multiple users throughout the day, the ability to swap handles quickly—without tools or complex procedures—means hygiene protocols can be maintained without compromising workflow.

This is particularly important in infection control procedures where standard fixed handles can become a vector for pathogen transmission. For healthcare providers managing patient safety alongside staff wellbeing, removable ergonomic handles transform a wheelchair from a single-use asset into a genuinely adaptable piece of equipment that supports both clinical standards and user comfort.

Beyond wheelchairs

Our conversation also explored many other everyday challenges where ergonomics could make life easier—from airport assistance wheelchairs and shopping trolleys to refuse bins and workplace equipment.

Each represents another opportunity to reduce strain while improving safety and independence.

This is only the beginning

At iTip Safety Handles, we've always believed that small design changes can have life-changing consequences.

Meeting Lisa reminded us that innovation isn't always about inventing something completely new.

Sometimes it's about applying an existing solution to a challenge nobody has thought about before.

If ergonomic Safety Handles can help someone walk a little further, reduce the strain on a husband caring for his wife, or make rehabilitation more comfortable, then they could become far more than an accessory.

They could become another step towards greater independence.

Contact iTip Safety Handles

For further information about iTip Safety Handles and benefits in reducing MSK injuries:

Email: Hello@SafetyHandles.co.uk
Phone: 0333 800 5000
Website: www.SafetyHandles.co.uk