Hello
I agree with what has already been said - particularly about asking people before they come to identify any particular assistance which they might want. We also have notices at our reception desks asking visitors to let us know whether they might require additional assistance to leave the building in an emergency. We also use an electronic method for booking meeting rooms and as part of that process staff are reminded to include a sentence asking about 'diversity, dietary or disability related requirements' when sending out meeting invitations. If the meeting is open to the public we try to ensure that it is always on a ground floor room. Even so, it's still difficult to ensure that everything is covered and to make people aware that we are not just trying to make a fuss about something which might never happen.
Regards
Susan
Susan Fairburn
Equality and Diversity Adviser
Customer Contact Team
Corporate Core
County Hall, New Road
Oxford, OX1 1ND
direct line 01865 323 197
team line 01865 323 221
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hunt, Alan
Sent: 06 August 2010 10:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: PEEPS
Hi Peter
I agree with all that Shane has said and would add that it is important whenever new buildings are commissioned and refurbishments are carried out that advantage is taken to ensure that exits and exit routes are properly protected; that doors have flush thresholds and are wide enough for wheelchair access and that ramps are provided if necessary. It is also worth considering the use of evacuation or fire-fighting lifts in new multi-story buildings to make the evacuation process easier and minimise the need for evacuation chairs and the like.
Regards
Alan
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]] On Behalf Of Shane T. Hogan
Sent: 06 August 2010 10:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: PEEPS
My comments are personal, and are not NDA policy.
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Hi Peter
I was heavily involved in a voluntary first aid organisation here in Ireland for many years, so I'm delighted to see that this sector is taking its responsibilities seriously. Your challenge is really the same challenge for any organisation that has visitors or members of the public coming to their offices or to events - how can you plan for unknown evacuation requirements.
The first step is to do everything reasonably possible to ensure that the building and staff support safe evacuation for everybody. Ensure that escape routes are level and over firm ground. Provide both audible and visual fire alarms where possible. Where additional equipment is necessary, such as evacuation chairs or vibrating alert pagers, ensure that staff are regularly trained in their use. For more guidance, see the NDA's publication 'Promoting Safe Evacuation and Egress for People with Disabilities' at http://www.nda.ie/egress
It may be possible to prepare 'template' PEEPS to cover different types of disabilities. There is a danger in this approach, as of course, each individual is different, and has their own individual abilities and possibly disabilities. These template PEEPS can result in inappropriate stereotyping or categorising of individuals (e.g. "all wheelchair users have to use the evacuation chair"). It is important that staff know to use template PEEPS as a tool, rather than as a rigid procedure.
The next step is to take reasonable steps to identify evacuation requirements up front. If you have a booking form or application form, ask attendees to highlight any evacuation needs up front. If there is form, then ensure that any announcement or publicity has a standard tag line, asking attendees to let you know about any access and egress requirements beforehand. This will give you a chance to plan ahead for those individuals, though in my experience, the number of people who use forms like this to detail their needs is low.
Finally, it is important to have good procedures and training in place to control what happens at the event itself. Despite the best attempts to plan ahead, you can be certain that some people will show up unannounced. They may be reluctant or nervous about highlighting their evacuation needs. You need to create an environment that encourages disclosure of needs, and responds appropriately with minimum fuss and drama.
I hope these thoughts help, and I'd love to hear thoughts of others on this challenging issue.
Regards
Shane
Shane Hogan
Senior Standards Officer
National Disability Authority
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.nda.ie
Direct Line: 01-6080497
NDA eLearning Project - See http://short.ie/5cpaar
Peterf
<peterf@KEPPLEWRA
Y.ORG.UK> To
Sent by: [log in to unmask]
Accessibuilt list cc
<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK> Subject
PEEPS
05/08/2010 08:47
Please respond to
Accessibuilt list
<ACCESSIBUILT@JIS
CMAIL.AC.UK>
Hi Everybody
In my spare time! I am a volunteer with a national 1st Aid organisation.
I am currently revamping their H and S Policy.
Several of the buildings are used for training external 1st Aid courses.
All buildings are used regularly (Once/twice a week) for member training).
Where I work full time we have PEEPS for staff with disabilities. It occures to me we should have the same for all buildings where there is a delegate with a disability.
However although we may know a delegate has a disability we may not know the full implications until they arrive for the course.
Has anyone got any experience of this and can advise me.
Yours
Peter
Peter Fox
Residential and Training Services Manager Kepplewray Project
Kepplewray challenges exclusion and is founded on a commitment to bring disabled and non-disabled people together as equal partners.
The Kepplewray Project, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA20 6HE.
Tel: 01229 716936
www.kepplewray.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1015762
Kepplewray Ltd Registered Company No 2675957 Cumbria LA20 6HE
01229 716936
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