Nationwide, employers are devising and delivering new business environments in offices, shops and factories, soon to be let loose to do the same in bars, clubs and restaurants.
It’s all about making the essential adjustments needed to get the country back to work and – without wanting to doubt the importance of that for a second – it’s to be hoped that businesses will also recognise the parallels with making reasonable adjustments to improve accessibility.
The procedure is much the same, as is the ultimate aim – making routes and spaces safe for use by as many people as possible.
In cases that we’re aware of, some employers have gone to great lengths to make the workspace safe.
They have toured sites and scrutinised the layout and facilities every step of the way because they recognise that every business owner knows their own company better than anybody else, and official guidance can only become specific when it is applied properly.
Typically the approach to change will draw on input from all the departments within a business and the outcome may be finding a different way of working by adopting sensible, practical solutons that aren’t too technical or too costly – but which can become very expensive if they are overlooked.
It should cover the journey through the premises and through the working day, anticipating all the touch points and interactions.
Businesses are re-designing walkways into a one-way system with two-metre markers and passing points for people and vehicles. We’re aware of cases where staff toilet rooms only had one door so employers have knocked holes in walls to create a separate exit. There’s also new signage everywhere giving constant reminders about social distancing, the one-way system and washing hands.
It’s important to remember obviously that significant changes should only be made after taking specialist advice, particularly where Building Regulations may come into play.
Businesses are also communicating with colleagues about the impact of any changes, and with third parties, learning from what neighbours, suppliers, customers and competitors are doing. It gets to the point where they look and learn everywhere they go, seeing examples of good practice whether they’re visiting another business or just doing the shopping.
All of this is being done to make the businesses more productive more quickly by enabling highly-valued staff to return to work and by putting the company in a position to welcome back customers and visitors.
It should ring a few bells because much of this also applies to the needs of disabled people, just perhaps not as drastically right now or with the same degree of urgency.
The process must of course consider the requirements within this scenario of people who have an impairment, and in reviewing routes and facilities it makes sense to consider whether they provide good accessibility in normal circumstances.
If you’ve got a pinch point in a doorway or corridor there’s every chance it will present difficulties every day for someone who uses a wheelchair. Is there an alternative route? If so, is it accessible?
What is the impact likely to be on disabled staff or visitors if measures to maintain social distancing reduce the capacity of any lifts in your building?
If you’re knocking holes in the walls of toilet areas does that present an opportunity to carry out other structural improvements – maybe make sure the accessible WCs are up to standard?
If you’re shifting things around to widen the aisles in a shop it’s likely the new environment will be more accessible, so why not stick with that? But don’t jump to conclusions. If increasing the floor space means sticking another shelf of products on top of existing displays you may be creating a whole new problem.
And if you’re putting up new signage, make sure it’s designed and located with disabled people in mind.
