Business Frequently Asked Questions 4
What actions do I have to take to protect disabled staff and members of the public?
The Disability Discrimination Act introduced in 1995 sought to ensure that disabled employees, visitors and students, whatever their disability, should be treated as well as people without disabilities and according to their needs.
It is illegal to treat a disabled person less favourably, in relation to employment, goods, services and facilities, and to place them at a substantial disadvantage to people without disabilities. This ensures that disabled people must be included in any fire evacuation plan.
An employer, building manager or service provider has to take reasonable steps to change practices or procedures that made it difficult for a disabled person to access goods facilities and services. This makes it necessary for example, to change evacuation procedures so that they cater for the needs of the disabled.
A service provider is required to take reasonable steps to remove any physical barriers that make it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of services. This may result in the physical modification or adjustment to the premises or the provision of special equipment.
Fire Risk Assessment Guide – Means of Escape for Disabled People, can be viewed and downloaded – HERE
Further information
| Royal Institute for the Blind |
www.rnib.org.uk | ||
| Royal Institute for the Deaf |
www.rnid.org.uk | ||
| Disabled people Directgov |
www.direct.gov.uk | ||