Totally agree Shane.......
Alan Hunt
Access Officer
Pembrokeshire County Council
tel: 01437 775148
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 May 2010 17:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Evac chairs [again]
First, let me clarify that this response is made on a personal basis, and
is not intended to represent my employer's policy or view on this matter.
This is a minefield! In my view, it is highly inappropriate to single out
visitors with disabilities to any building for any purpose, including
evacuation. It is also ineffective - how can they identify customers with
disabilities coming through the door? How can they be sure that visitors
with mental health issues or learning disabilities will also be able to
evacuate safely?
In relation to restricting access numbers, they may be on more solid
ground. Limiting access numbers is a common approach for safety reasons.
Most venues have capacity limits, and it may be necessary to turn away
people, regardless of their ability or disability. Evacuation arrangements
could be limited by lift capacity, refuge zone capacity and/or numbers of
evacuation chairs, so their may be good reasons to limit the capacity of
visitors who require these facilities.
However, they need to be very careful about making assumptions. For
example, just because someone uses a wheelchair does not mean that an evac
chair is the best evacuation option for them. Some wheelchair users will
prefer to (and be capable of) simply sliding down chairs. Some wheelchair
users will be able to walk short distances. Some wheelchair users cannot be
transferred into evacuation chairs.
Unfortunately, I really haven't come across any public access building that
has cracked this issue. It is very difficult to balance the requirement to
plan for safe evacuation with avoiding discriminatory actions. The best
option for vertical movement is to have evacuation lifts in place in the
building, but even these lifts have capacity limits.
Regards
Shane
Shane Hogan
Project Manager - Excellence through Accessibility
National Disability Authority
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.nda.ie/eta
Direct Line: 01-6080497
NDA eLearning Project - See http://short.ie/5cpaar
Vin West
<vin.west99@BTINT
ERNET.COM> To
Sent by: [log in to unmask]
Accessibuilt list cc
<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK> Subject
Evac chairs [again]
28/05/2010 12:17
Please respond to
Accessibuilt list
<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK>
HI,
I have been asked about the legality and advisability of:
a) requiring disabled people [only disabled people] to register with
reception on entering a public building and letting staff know where they
are in the building and
b) limiting access to upper floors to two mobility impaired people on the
grounds that only two evac chairs are held in the building.
I have provided interim advice on the basis that management do have a
responsibility for the safety and safe evacuation of the public but that
that does not excuse them from complying with the DDA or treating people
equally and with dignity, and that excluding people from any part of a
building on the basis that management are not sufficiently prepared will
not protect them from challenge under the DDA since it is clearly
discriminatory - but I would value others' views.
Regards,
Vin
Vin West
Secretary Arfon Access Group
Glyn Dwr
Llandwrog Uchaf
Caernarfon
LL54 7RA
01286 880761
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