The recent press surrounding disabled citizens has been extremely unflattering, primarily because it has centred on a supposedly floored benefits strategy and a rising number of fraudulent claims. Such stories can cloud readers’ judgement and create widespread misconceptions, while they always do a great disservice to those with a physical disability that attend work every single day.
How to Modify your Workspace for Disabled Employees in 3 Simple Steps
As an employee, it is crucial that you respect the physical requirements of disabled employees and create a workspace that ultimately empowers them. Consider the following 3 steps towards achieving this goal: –
1. Make Your Workplace Wheelchair Accessible
There are numerous forms of physical disability, but individuals with severely restricted levels of mobility will usually utilise a wheelchair during their daily travels. It is therefore crucial that your building is wheelchair accessible, whether you already employee disabled staff.
And when you are an equal opportunities employer who has a fair-minded approach to recruiting new members of staff. The installation of strategically placed access ramps is a key aspect of this, as it the decision to replace standard, interior doors with those that can opened electronically.
2. Install Electric Window Openers
On a similar note, it is important to create a comfortable environment where your staff can work without restriction. With summer now upon us, it is therefore crucial that you install electronic windows that can be opened with the touch of a button.
These fittings, which are sold by reputable outlets such as Rocburn, are easily accessible and offer individuals with restricted mobility the opportunity to open and close windows without the need for fuss or excess exertion.
3. Establish a Viable Fire Safety Regime
Fire safety is a crucial component of workplace compliance, but this becomes slightly more convoluted when you need to ensure that disabled or wheelchair bound individuals are able to leave the building quickly and efficiently. Remember that the lifts are out of bound during a fire drill or emergency evacuation, so unless you operate on the ground floor of a building you will need a stringent strategy in place.
The exact course of action that you take will depend on the size and layout of your structure, but it is important that you consult knowledgeable industry experts prior to making a decision. Without this necessary precaution, you run the risk of endangering your employee’s well-being in the event of an emergency.
