Photo by Kampus Production: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-having-a-meeting-at-the-office-6248968/
Accessibility is becoming more important in the workplace, not just for the people working in offices. That being said, modern offices tend to be in tall buildings, so the construction of an office building is carefully considered from start to finish. That being said, when a company moves into the offices, there needs to be other considerations in the office space. Let’s take a look at the importance of accessibility.
Why Offices Need To Consider Accessibility
One of the first reasons for considering accessibility is so that you can include everyone in society, including those who have a disability. This is to ensure that their disabilities do not affect their level of work and how they operate in the workplace/office.
Another reason offices need to consider accessibility is so that they are complying with laws and regulations. If you don’t comply with these laws and regulations, then it could mean your business faces a penalty.
Another positive for considering workplace accessibility is the added benefit of improved productivity. This is because the office would have improved facilities in terms of accessibility, which makes working with a disability much easier. The benefit of this is that it also helps those who have temporary disability, such as using crutches or a broken arm.
How To Make an Office Accessible
There are a lot of things that must be considered when making an office accessible. This includes both the interior and exterior of the building. If you don’t think you are doing everything right to improve accessibility, here are the things you can change.
Exterior
The exterior of a building is very important. This includes offering disabled parking spaces in case the employee has a vehicle. Something else that would be required is that you will need ramps for elevated areas, along with automated doors.
Interior
In the building, there will be certain things that need to be changed as well. Firstly, if there are multiple floors, a lift needs to be installed that has plenty of space for a wheelchair. A mirror also needs to be installed in the lift so they can see when they are reversing out of the lift. The buttons should also have braille on them for those who are blind. A Manchester-based lift company carefully considers these features of a lift to ensure the installation is accessible for everyone.
In regard to the office, there are a few things that you need to change here. This includes low-level cupboards in communal areas. Additionally, there needs to be plenty of space for manoeuvrability and a wide enough space for wheelchair users. Using natural daylight bulbs in the office is also recommended, along with hearing loops in the meeting rooms.
Equipment
In terms of equipment, there will have to be a few changes here as well. One-handed keyboards, ergonomic mice, adjustable desks for height, ergonomic chairs and dictation software should all be available to those who require them. Additionally, you should consider a screen reader for those who are visually impaired.
Remember To Consider Health & Safety
Health and safety are something that you should always consider for your employees, especially when considering accessibility. For example, in the case of a fire, there needs to be emergency exits of the building that are accessible for everyone, including those who are in a wheelchair.
Accessible toilets are something else to consider, and in these bathrooms, there needs to be health and safety measures in place. Firstly, the toilet needs to be much higher than the usual toilet to make it easier for wheelchair users. Additionally, you need to have handrails around the bathroom, and there needs to be plenty of space for a wheelchair. The basin should also be low enough for wheelchair users to turn the tap on and off. Finally, an emergency pull cord should also be available in case someone falls over and cannot get up. All of this is very important for a modern lift.
How To Make People Aware That Your Office Is Accessible
To ensure people are aware that your office is accessible, you will need to do a few different things. Job adverts need to include some mention of accessibility. Furthermore, you can include on your website that you are a Disability Confident and on social media. Plus, you can state on your website that you have worked with disability charities, and making your website accessible with text fonts and colours is another key indicator.
Summary
As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be changed in an office and why it is so important in the modern world. Making potential employees aware that your office is accessible is also very important because it could be the selling point for some people, as they may require some accessible features.
