DDA – The Disability Discrimination Act and You #disabilityact #securityatwork

Since the 1st October 2004 there have been significant changes to the Disability Discrimination Act that may impact on your fire safety & security strategy.  From this date anyone providing a service will have to address those physical features which make it difficult for disabled people to use their services.

This will mean that service providers – including care-homes, hotels and restaurants, pubs, clubs, gyms, swimming pools and hospitals – will all have to make “reasonable adjustments” to their premises or the way they provide their services to ensure they are not unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use.

These include:

British Standards: The British Standard recommends that visual alarm devices or “tactile devices” be incorporated with the existing fire system to provide a warning to the hard of hearing and partially sighted.

Legal Requirements: Any non-domestic building with more than one storey should provide a means of refuge for any person who cannot easily use fire escapes, lifts and stairs during an emergency.

Emergency Safety Signage: Safety signs can give people the vital knowledge needed to operate emergency devices quickly and safely.

For more details contact our team at Alert Fire and Security.