How to make your buildings more accessible – management issues
In the next few editions of the newsletter we hope to highlight how you can make your buildings more accessible. The first installment highlights some easy steps that you can take to improve the day to day management of your buildings:
- A building can become inaccessible quite easily if it isn’t managed correctly. Therefore it is important to ensure the day to day management of the building considers accessibility. Organisations should carry out access maintenance checks on a regular basis. If you would like a maintenance template, please e-mail us at [email protected] and we will send you a copy free of charge.
- When carrying out repairs and refurbishments, use them as opportunities to make the building more accessible. For example when replacing old or broken fixtures and fittings ensure you replace them with accessible ones and if you are redecorating or painting ensure you consider colour and tonal contrast.
- Ensure pre-visitor information regarding access to the building is provided on your website. Pre-visitor information should highlight the accessible features of the building, public transport provision, relevant contact information (access officer details etc) and relevant access guides. Organisations should also provide information when a good level of access has been achieved. This can be done by contacting local access groups, disability organizations or by contacting the media.
- Carry out a review of your access audit and update as necessary. Ensure you have prioritized your action items and that you are implementing them on a phased basis. The NDA recommends that access audits on buildings should be carried out every 3 years.
- ‘Disability proof’ all Health and Safety policies and procedures and updated as required.
- Ensure access is a criterion in the procurement process. Remember Section 27 of the Disability Act requires that accessibility is a criterion to be considered throughout the tendering process and this applies to goods and services (office furniture, leasing buildings, extensions, alterations, security services etc).
