Changes in strategy due to disabled occupants

[Nearlybaldandgrey]

Some interesting comments!

While the DDA requires "reasonable adjustment", if the premises are not capable of providing accomodation at ground or first floor, then how can the person be permitted to stay?

If staffing is not available 24/7, how would the person be evacuated? You can't provide a refuge and just leave them in it, they must be accompanied and have communications with the ground floor.

You could permit use of the lift on a one time only downward trip for the purpose of evacuation, subject to the risk assessment of course, but can the person get to it unaided?

If the reqiuest has come from the University to provide the accommodation, you could put the onus back on them to come up with some solutions ...... reasonable in my humble opinion!

I do know of a premises where a wheel chair user lives on the 5th floor ..... BUT .... their is a refuge almost immediately outside the flat door, the persons partner stays with them most nights (or a friend on others), when the fire alarm actuates, a friend calls the person on their mobile to check they are OK if it is known that they are alone .... and there is a PEEP in place which has been agreed with the person by the accomodation providers. There is an option to use the lift for an immediate evacuation if needs be, but this is a last resort.

The person in this case did not want to be separated from their friends and has accepted some risk, which is documented, along with the procedures for them.

It isn't impossible to provide the accommodation, it requires some very careful management and good friends!

[Fishy]

There is a positive duty on public authorities (not sure if this provider falls under that), to do more than absolutely necessary to help provide services to disabled people.

If the lift is in a protected enclosure and as long as the disabled person can be alerted as early as possible, consider letting them use the lift. I bet the person in the wheelchair is happy to accept the additional (slight) risk to enjoy the same opportunities as others.

Has anyone asked if they can shuffle down the stairs on their backside. Most disabled people would much prefer being in control of their own escape.

Absolutely Val; the duty is to have policies that 'actively promote' opportunities for the disabled to be treated fairly.  There are reputedly 45,000 public bodies in Great Britain that are covered.  Generally accepted as a 'harder' equality test than the 'reasonableness' one.

A word of caution about using the lifts; unless a fire-fighting or compliant evacuation lift you'll probably find that it will 'ground' with its doors open when the fire alarm goes off and won't respond to calls (even the car override key might not work).  Lift Engineers generally aren't happy disabling this function unless its an evacuation lift, 'cos it ceases to comply with BS - EN 81-73 if they do (and they won't, in my experience, take on that responsibility).  Robust power supplies and a means of communication are also crucial.  BS 9999 is due out soon and expands on these issues.

[jokar]

Fishy you are absolutely right on the use of normal passenger lifts.  They have to be subjected to a risk assessment before use for this but can provide a means of evacuation.  It is a shame that the new ADB did not state that all lifts in new builds should be of evacuation standard.