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Access Audit - Make Sure Your Business is Complying with DDA

Posted On : Feb-16-2012 | seen (580) times | Article Word Count : 509 |

Access Audits can help you to make sure your business is complying with important Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) legislation.
Access Audits can help you to make sure your business is complying with important Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) legislation. Failure to comply can result in some significant difficulties for businesses including legal action.

DDA Guidelines

Too many people neglect to consider the impact of the DDA on their business. This legislation enforces the performance of commercial and public premises in terms of access and ease of use. This means for everyone including those that may have physical or sensory disabilities.

• The main aim of the DDA is to make sure that public and commercial places are accessible to everyone including those that may have disabilities.

• The DDA was introduced in 1995 and was well received by both businesses and the general public. It showed that there had been a serious need for legislation in this area.

• Many businesses had been attempting to make access better for all their customers but lacked the guidelines to make this truly effective.

• The DDA provided the guidance that was desperately needed. The majority of companies and service providers quickly embraced the Act recognising the benefits for both their public image and also their overall business.

• Access Audits can help businesses to maintain their compliance and ensure they are making their premises accessible to everyone.

• Access Audits can also help you to keep up to date with any changes to the DDA.

• Legislation like the DDA is changed now and again so you do need to carry out regular Access Audits to make sure you comply at all times.

Disabled Access Action Plan

Access Audits can help you develop an effective Disabled Access Action Plan. These audits will identify what reasonable adjustments may be required to make your business premises more easily accessible for your visitors and customers. Access Audits can include points such as:

• Ramps and lifts to provide wheelchair access to raised areas of flooring and different building levels.

• Improved layout to make buildings easier to navigate for those with disabilities.

• More suitable toilet facilities for disabled employees and visitors.

• More suitable parking facilities for disabled employees and visitors.

• Improved signage and lighting to key areas of the premises such as the car park and entrances.

• Easy access doorways (improvements to handles and door controls)

• Improved seating plans and lighting for interiors (from office spaces through to dining areas)

• Improved surfaces to make interiors and exteriors more accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.

• Effective alarm systems for those with different sensory impairments. For example visual alarms in the event of fire as well as audio alarms.

Access Audits will help you create effective Disabled Access Action Plans for your business. This will clarify what changes you may need to make straight away and also what alterations or refurbishments may be required to make your business more accessible in the future.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Access Audit - Make Sure Your Business is Complying with DDA_150563.aspx

Author Resource :
Access Audits can help you to make sure your business is performing well when it comes to access. Providing adequate access to your employees, visitors and customers is an important part of complying with the DDA.

Keywords : Disability Access Audits, Statements, Consultancy, DA Inspection, Access Audits, Access Audit, Way finding surveys, Disabilit,

Category : Business : Business

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