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ivorheadache		#1 Posted : 12 April 2013 11:50:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Hi all. Is there a legal requirement to have a passenger lift in a 3 store premise (approx 150 - 200 staff) when there are no non-ambulant staff in the building? Should we ever employ a wheelchair user, I would of course carry out a full RA and PEEP for that individual and look at any options then. I just need to know where we stand now. Thanks for any opinions.
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ivorheadache		#2 Posted : 12 April 2013 11:53:19(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Sorry, that should say 3 storey above. It is an office building.
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Jim Sweetman		#3 Posted : 12 April 2013 11:55:34(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Hi there, the quick reply is that there are no specific legal requirements under H&S. If you look at Building Regs, there may be something, but those Regs only apply to new/changes to buildings and are not retrospective.
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RayRapp		#4 Posted : 12 April 2013 12:15:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		ivorheadache wrote: Hi all. Is there a legal requirement to have a passenger lift in a 3 store premise (approx 150 - 200 staff) when there are no non-ambulant staff in the building? Should we ever employ a wheelchair user, I would of course carry out a full RA and PEEP for that individual and look at any options then. I just need to know where we stand now. Thanks for any opinions. What about a visitor?
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David Bannister		#5 Posted : 12 April 2013 12:30:26(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Ivor, I note your Group indicates retail. As a customer I am a very rare visitor to anywhere I am expected to climb 3 floors of stairs on each visit. That's my law!
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ivorheadache		#6 Posted : 12 April 2013 13:05:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Thanks guys. David, this isn't retail, it's an office building with no disabled at present. Jim, I think your answer is what I was after. no legal requirement unless refurbished. Many thanks
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ivorheadache		#7 Posted : 12 April 2013 14:13:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Hi guys. I just want to reverse this question. If a lift is in the building which is rarely used and requires a substantial amount of money to bring it up to standard, can it be decommissioned until such times as it may be needed i.e. for disability? The reason I ask is we have just taken over the offices and the previous owners did not adequately maintain the lift. The quote to upgrade it was in the 10's of 1000's.
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Bluenose		#8 Posted : 12 April 2013 14:13:40(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Ivor, the DDA says that you should make 'reasonable provision' for people with mobility problems. In this case if you knew that you were geting a visitor that could not climb the stairs, you could always meet them at ground floor level. That is 'reasonable' and is also the much cheaper option!
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bilbo		#9 Posted : 12 April 2013 14:27:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		ivorheadache - if you rely on a lift for disabled access, you will have to ensure that it is an entirely independant power source and suitable for use in a fire situation, many are not! Far better to make reasonable provision as Bluenose suggests as long as that meets the needs of the mobility impaired and the organisation. Note however - DDA no longer exists it is the Equality Act duties that must be met now.
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ivorheadache		#10 Posted : 12 April 2013 17:14:30(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Once again, thanks for the help. I have given my company the options available. I just needed to know the legal requirements first. Thanks bilbo. I wasn't aware of the Equality act replacing the DDA. I have had a look and will need to update our disability policies.
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messyshaw		#11 Posted : 12 April 2013 20:24:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		bilbo wrote: ivorheadache - if you rely on a lift for disabled access, you will have to ensure that it is an entirely independant power source and suitable for use in a fire situation, many are not! Far better to make reasonable provision as Bluenose suggests as long as that meets the needs of the mobility impaired and the organisation. Note however - DDA no longer exists it is the Equality Act duties that must be met now. To make a lift acceptable for evacuations, you need to provide much more than an 'independent' power source
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