Safe working during the COVID 19 pandemic - Accessibility Considerations.
The current pandemic has changed the way that people work. To keep everyone safe, The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched ‘The Guidelines for safe working during the Covid-19 pandemic’.
The latest version of this guideline is now available online and includes information and recommendations that is applicable to any organization. This version includes specific guidance on accessibility and inclusion considerations.
Key accessibility considerations included in Annex B of ‘The Guidelines for safe working during the Covid-19 pandemic’ are as follow:
- Not all disabled people are vulnerable to Covid-19.
- Many people’s vulnerabilities to Covid-19 are not visible and other adjustments could be necessary.
- Maintain accessibility outside of the workplace, for example; maintaining the accessible parking facilities free of obstacles, the availability of step free routes, etc.
- Maintain accessibility inside workplaces by ensuring that hand sanitiser is accessible to all, height considerations, recognizing that one-way systems can create longer routes which affect people with mobility impairments, etc.
- Ensure accessible communication, for example face coverings could create communication issues for people with hearing impairments, provide closed caption subtitles in videos, etc.
If you want to ensure your organization is accessible by as many people as possible, at OHAC we provide a range of accessibility services aimed at all levels. If you need further information please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on (01) 415 12 85 or e-mail [email protected].
