Ensuring Your Office Is Accessible: A Guide

September 11 2019 - It's absolutely imperative that your offices are accessible for those who are less able-bodied than others who work there. You must take steps to ensure that every member of your team is able to move around the premises comfortably and easily. This guide is going to help you provide full accessibility to each and every person who works for you, and for those who visit you as well.

You need to think about the practicalities of every decision you make in business, that's a given, but you should also consider them when designing your office too. By not making your office accessible, you could be missing out on your chances of securing highly skilled and talented candidates.

For more on how to ensure that your office is fully accessible, then continue to read on.

Installing A Lift

It's not always feasible to have a stairlift installed in commercial premises, and if getting one is out of the question for your offices, then you should think seriously about having a disabled lift for commercial and public access premises fitted. These offer a simple solution and ensure that everyone can access your premises easily and safely. If you're thinking about getting a lift installed, but still have questions concerning style, cost, noise disturbance, structural implications, and planning permission, then don't hesitate to contact the experts who can answer your queries quickly and efficiently.

Kitchen Appliances

Your entire office space should be fully functioning for those with mobility disadvantages, and this includes the likes of the kitchen space, the bathroom, and communal areas alike. Sinks shouldn't be set too high, and as well as having taps, think about adding a retractable hose/sprayer that can be pulled down so that it can be used to wash plates, for example. Rise and fall furniture is an option too, just as much as having softer rounded off corners on appliances and work surfaces is. These details can make manoeuvring around and avoiding an obstruction considerably easier for those with disabilities.

Think About Furniture

It might not have crossed your mind, but some furniture can cause problems for those who are in wheelchairs, use mobility aids, or are less steady on their feet. This is precisely why you should carefully consider your choices before going ahead and ordering furniture. For example, you'll need to ensure your office is functioning using adjustable desks, that trip hazards are entirely removed, and that plug sockets are not affixed close to the floor. Monitor arms should also be adjustable, just as there should be ramps to make stairs and steps manageable.

Educate Your Staff

Last but in no means least, your staff should be educated so that they're aware of how to be disability-friendly, and that they're familiar with assistive technology, why it's needed, and how they can be of assistance when required. Training should be given to all members of staff to ensure that they fully understand sensitising and etiquette in how best to interact with less able-bodied members of their team.