INTRODUCTION TO THE EQUALITY ACT
From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act replaced most of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The Act aims to end prejudice against less able people. It has been significantly extended over the last ten years and now gives less able people rights in the following areas: Education, employment, renting or buying land or property, access to goods, facilities and services, activities, clubs, sports and associations. Where this restriction is involves the vertical circulation within a building the provision of a lifting platform may provide a solution.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE EQUALITY ACT
Obligations under the Equality Act require service providers and workplaces to make reasonable provisions and/or adjustments to overcome physical features, which obstruct the less able to access facilities. To overcome a physical feature means to either remove it, alter it so that it no longer has an effect, provide an alternative access route, or make services available to the less able in another way.
BUILDING DESIGN
It is the building designer’s obligation to ensure that access is provided for the less able to ensure compliance with the Equality Act. Regarding vertical circulation this can be implemented by the use of say ramps, lifts or lifting platforms. It is a general misconception that the Equality Act specifies equipment.
ACCESS STATEMENT
Building designers can then put forward the type of lifting device within the access statement that they feel most suitable depending on the environment and usage among other factors. If personnel lifting devices are incorporated compliant with statutory regulations this will allow the building designer to fulfill his obligations under the Equality Act. The Requirements of Platform Lifts are contained in Part M of the Building Regulations, BS:8300 (called up within the regulation), BS:6440 and EN81-41.
