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Accessibility
Q5 - Will it be safe for me to have a blind, partially sighted or disable person working in my business?
The majority of work sites have few or no barriers to blind or partially sighted workers. Usually there is an easy solution to any barriers that do exist and changes can almost always be paid for with a grant from Access to Work. Solutions might be as simple as identifying walk areas with tactile markings to assist a blind employee to move safely from one area to another or the use of colour contrasts for the edge of steps.
When standard Health and Safety procedures are followed, the risks of having a blind or partially sighted member of staff should be no greater than for any other employee. It is even suggested that Safety records improve, as people may become more consciously aware of safety and improvements to systems are encouraged. In particular special care should be taken to ensure that routes, exits and entrances are always kept clear of any obstacles or blockages.
Health and safety information should be made available in a variety of accessible formats including large print, Braille, and electronic formats. Information on posters or wall-signs can be made available this way as well.
Blind and partially sighted people may need some additional help to learn the routes to and locations of emergency exits.
As for every other employee, whether they are blind, partially sighted or have another disability (any other), they should be made aware of all emergency procedures of each site or building including participation in scheduled fire-drills and other exercises.
Basically, your obligations to a disabled member of staff or visitor are the same as those to every other member of staff or visitor and it is not difficult to make sure that all training and procedures are inclusive and safe.
How will a blind or partially sighted person get to work?
If the blind or partially sighted person is ready to work it is likely that they have been managing their own independent travel for some time. They may use public transport, taxis, and walk. Access to Work may pay for them to be driven to their workplace if they are unable to use public transport. Barriers to employment formed by prejudice and ignorance are the real disability for blind and partially sighted people. Lack of exposure to blind, partially sighted and disabled people in general, whether socially or within the work place is the major cause of this, not deliberate obstruction on the part of employers.
Free Support
Visage can provide free preliminary environmental assessments, which can highlight any areas where improvements in safety and ease of access can be made. Other specialist organisations can provide additional personalised advice as needed.