General Manager:
Ian Streets, National Register of Access Consultants

Act Now - Before it's too late

Most people believe the act does not come into force until October 2004, in relation to parts of the Act, many provisions are now in force inclucing those relating to commercial properties. The consequences for not totally complying could be far reaching.

All providers of goods and services must comply and therefore the widest range of disabilities should be considered and evaluated, including ambulant persons who have difficulty in walking, people with learning difficulties, people with behavioural problems, those with hearing, sight and other sensory impairments.

Remember that there are many more categories of disabled persons than those who use wheelchairs. All providers of goods and services must comply and therefore the widest range of disabilities should be considered and evaluated, including ambulant persons who have difficulty in walking, people with learning difficulties, those with hearing, sight and other sensory impairments. An employer must also take reasonable steps, such as adjusting operating procedures or making special arrangements within the work place to prevent any discrimination happening. This is known as resonable adjustment.

Requirements for Disabled Access

By 2004 employers, landlords and tenants must have taken reasonable steps to enable access to their buildings for the disabled. An Access Audit would also cover car parking, external environment, circulation, welfare facilities, sanitary accomodation, compliance with legislation, advice on audible and visual alarm systems, management policies, furniture layout, switches, colours and numerous other requirements which are not so obvious. Each environment requires an independent audit to ensure reasonable adjustments can be undertaken to comply with and satisfy the law.

Healthy Office Audits and Services

Healthy Office have trained Auditors including advisors to the World Health Organisation. Healthy Office have a strict code of conduct with audit and compliance procedures. Bespoke services are available including training, sourcing special equipment, organising and managing building refurbishment.

Don't Forget to Audit Regularly

The duty to make reasonable adjustments is a continuing duty. Service providers should keep the duty constantly under review in the light of their experience with disabled people wanting to access their services. In this respect it is an evolving duty, and not something that needs simply to be considered once and once only, and then forgotten. For example, technological developments may provide new or better solutions to the problems of inaccessible services.

Many people believe that because thay have a new building it complies. Building Regulations cover a number of things and the new approved document (comes into effect 1 May 2004) goes even further. Are your light levels correct? Are your doors adjusted to the correct opening force? These are just a few of the things that drawings in the planning stage can not measure or may miss and we would check and report on.

For Peace of Mind Contact the Professionals Now

We are an Allied Surveyors associated company, with 160 branches throughout the UK.

To see a full list of 'Key People' within Healthy Office, go to our Key People page.