DDA compliance in the workplace
What is in the DDA ?
Under the DDA, small to medium
sized businesses have to make 'reasonable
adjustments' so they do not discriminate against
disabled customers or employees. This may affect the
way you treat your staff, job applicants and
customers.
The law has been designed so that
you only have to make reasonable changes, but if you
fail to do what is reasonable, a disabled person
could take legal action against you for treating
them unfairly.
If your organisation is not
accessible to disabled people, you could be missing
out on a lot of potential customers.
What is covered by DDA
Employment
Access to goods
Facilities and services
The management, buying or renting of land or property
Educational establishments
Many of its measures have already become law. It is aimed at
ensuring that disabled people are not discriminated against terms of
the way services are offered.
Under Part 3 of the Act, from October 2004 service providers will have
to ensure that the physical features of their premises do not create
barriers to access.
What is the DSE Regulation ?
Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations came into force in the
early 1990s to ensure that workers using computers did so in a health
conscious way. The regulations are intended to prevent health
problems occurring including
musculoskeletal disorders, eye fatigue and mental stress, by promoting
good ergonomic design of equipment furniture, the working
environment and job tasks.
How will it effect my business ?
The DDA and the DSE will effect your business, the way you deal with
customers, your staff and your general working environment in a number
of different ways.
The DDA is focussed on accessibility. If you provide a service,
then your premises must be accessible to the disabled. The DSE
staff operating or accessing computer terminals, work to ensure that
they are following correct safety guidelines.
As such, you may have to make physical alterations to your premises
and change your working policies to ensure that you meet the
requirements of this legislation.
What are my legal obligations ?
Under the DDA, your organization provides a service you must take
reasonable steps to overcome physical barriers by either :
1. Removing them
2. Altering or adapting them
3. Providing reasonable means to avoid or overcome them
4. Providing an alterative means of offering the service
Under the DSE, some of the employer's key duties include the following
:
1. Analysing workstations and assessing and reducing risk
2. Ensuring workstations meet minimum requirements
3. Planning work so there are breaks or changes of activity.
Furniture that blends your existing working
environment yet ensures you meet the requirements of the DDA and the
DSE, is now a reality - South West Office Furniture Ltd has a selection of office
furniture ready to purchase at fast delivery times.