Rank: Forum user 
|
The first floor of an office building has access by several flights of stairs and by lift. In case of a fire there could be issues with disabled persons exiting the building via the stairs. Is it acceptable to provide office/ meeting rooms on the ground floor for disabled persons or must the building be converted. There are no disabled employees on the first floor, is it acceptable to make it a policy that meetings with disabled visitors are scheduled for the ground floor meeting room?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Yes that is the common sense answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Firstly - the DDA is no more! This has been replaced by the Equality Act. Secondly - it may not be acceptable to have a blanket policy that "disabled" perosns were all treated in this way. I think what you mean is those persons who are disabled AND who use wheelchairs - that being so, it would be acceptable to provide ground floor arrangements in those circumstances. All those persons who are unable to evacuate unaided should be the subject of a PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) and there is ample guidance on the DCLG website - "Means of Escape for Disabled People" that will assist in drawing up such arrangements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Hi Sharks,
I think I'll forgive you for using the term DDA, we use it still and nobody seems to mind ;)
As for PEEP's, they can be very time consuming and involves alot of discussion, so it will depend on who's visiting the meeting, if they are guests staying for an hour I wouldn't deem it reasonable to go through a full PEEP.
Your original post makes good sense.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
I'm surprised you're getting some grief here.
What you are suggesting is exactly the right approach, reasonable adjustments are required and I consider this to be reasonable, no - more than that it is actually common sense.
Well done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
No grief intended - merely trying to point out (badly as it seems) that it may not be acceptable to assume that ALL disabled persons would wish to be treated as they were unable to access other floors. Hey ho!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Hi
Its my belief (and i may be wrong) that if you held meetings with any person who has a mobility disability in the first floor offices, then you would have to supply some means of evacuation equipment other than their wheel chair if they used one - such as a specifically designed chair - you would have to train nominated members of staff in the correct lifting and manoevering procedure and include a maintenance and checking register and add these to your FRA and Reasonable Adjustments.
Also - you would need to review evacuation for people suffering with mental health issues - I have implemented a buddy scheme here whereby at the sound of the alarm, a nominated colleague from the same department ensures that they leave the building together calmly and stays with the employee until we return.
In respect to meetings and interviews - we always ask the visitor either in letter or over the phone,if there are any Reasonable Adjustments or special conditions that they need to visit the premises - we have found that the visitor is grateful for the consideration and saves any unwanted embarrassment when they arrive -
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.