In order to make your business accessible to all your customers, you may need to make a few adjustments. Lift installation is one of the more obvious choices, since it immediately makes all levels of your business available to those with mobility problems. However, there are many other ways to make everyone feel welcome in your space. Here are some of the best ways to make your business more accessible.
Disabled Parking Spaces
For anyone with mobility issues, parking can be a problem. If they’re forced to park too far from the entrance, they may have difficulties reaching the business to begin with. There is also the matter of getting in and out of the vehicle. Many people with mobility problems need extra space, which is provided in a disabled parking space. This allows those with walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids to exit and enter the vehicle properly.
Ramp Access
If there are stairs in the front of the business, you need to install ramp access. This is mainly for those with wheelchairs, but it also makes it easier for families with prams and those who use mobility aids to get up to the entrance level.
A ramp does require some space, so you may prefer to look at
lift installers. Many lift design services can create a small lift that will help people move up from the street level to the entrance. If you have limited space for a ramp, this is a good alternative.
Better Lighting
Lighting is particularly important if you want everyone to see where they are going. This means not only lighting within the store, but outside. The parking lot should be clearly lit and there should be plenty of lights illuminating the paths and ramp. This ensures everyone will see where they are going and will be less likely to trip because they can’t see what is under their feet.
Inside the business, proper lighting helps customers read labels and choose their products. Subpar lighting can be very difficult for those with visual impairment and can cause people to avoid your business, if they can’t see properly.
Mark Pathways and Steps
To prevent trips and falls, it’s important to clearly mark pathways and steps. These may be painted or have reflective tape placed on them, but this will help people see where they need to go. For someone who may not see very well, it’s helpful to have stairs marked so they don’t fall when they step forward.
The edges of paths can also be clearly marked and well lit so there is no confusion, particularly in the dark. This simple step makes it much easier for everyone to reach your business.
Avoid Trip Hazards
Many everyday items can cause trips and falls. This is more common when it comes to elderly people or those with mobility issues, but it can happen to anyone. Some common trip hazards that you’ll find in a business and may not realise include:
Cords
If you have cords or wires running across the floor, this could trip someone. Even if the cable is taped down and marked, it is still not ideal. It would be better if you could run it along the wall or ceiling instead.
Anti-slip mats
While these mats prevent slipping, they are raised and can result in someone tripping over them. Be very careful where you use these.
Wet floors
To avoid slippage, be sure to mark or even block off wet floor areas to prevent people slipping.
Anything that is used on the floor can pose a tripping hazard. Evaluate your area carefully, then remove or improve anything that could cause problems.
Widen Doorways and Entries
Doorways in the building should be wide enough to allow for a wheelchair to move through them. This is an important part of being accessible, since there’s no reason for lift installation if no one can get through the doorways.
You may even consider making some doors automatic, such as the front entry. The doors could automatically open using sensors when someone comes near, or they can open with the push of a button. Either way, provide a method of easy entry into the building so all your customers can relax.
Install Accessible Toilets
Accessible toilets are a must for any business. These should be available on the lower floor at the very least, but one per floor is best. An accessible toilet will have a wide door for wheelchair access, along with bars to make it easier to get on and off the toilet.
In addition to accessible toilets, you may wish to add family toilets, which can be combined in most cases. These include an area to change small children so parents don’t have to fuss with a dirty nappy in a small space. While parents may not be special needs, they do require some additional help when it comes to managing babies and small children.
Clear Corridors
Throughout your business, it’s best to prevent potential issues by keeping the corridors and spaces clear. It’s not uncommon for boxes to be stacked up in these areas and even if they are to be unpacked rapidly, they can prevent people from reaching the area they want to see. This can become a fire hazard, as well. If you have partially blocked a fire exit and there is someone in a wheelchair, they may not be able to get past the obstacles.
Consider accessibility whenever you have a shipment or are moving things around in the business. You need to carefully consider how others will move throughout the building and ensure that they can manage it without needing to backtrack constantly. Fire exits should never be blocked, even partially.
Obvious Signage
Signs can be difficult to read, particularly for those with vision impairment or the elderly. To prevent this from being a problem, you should make certain that your signage is clear and obvious. It should be large enough to catch attention, particularly for emergency signs. These signs should be in bold, contrasting colours to ensure they are easily visible and should be with sufficiently large lettering that they can be clearly seen.
While emergency signage is the most obvious thing to change up, you can improve your entire business and make it more accessible if you take the time to ensure all your signage is easy to read. You may include Braille, as well, so that those who cannot see at all will still find their way throughout the business.
Lift Installation
One of the most useful methods of improving accessibility in your business, for both employees and customers, is
lift installation. A lift immediately makes the entire building available to people, regardless of their mobility issues.
To install a lift, you’ll need to talk to several elevator companies and discuss your needs. In most buildings, a simple lift can reach all floors and that may be all you need. However, if there are more complicated considerations, you may need lift design services to help with the design for your particular situation.
There are several options when it comes to lifts, so you may need to look at the different choices you have. Elevator companies can help you determine which design works best for your needs.
When you install a lift in your business, it shows your customers and your employees that you care about them. It sends a positive message to everyone that you value your customers enough to ensure they can visit every level of your business. This can only reflect well on your business and will tend to bring more people to see you.
In addition to benefiting your customers, lift installation will help your employees too. If they have heavy items to move from one floor to the next, they can use the lift. This reduces the chances of their being injured and helps ensure the products remain undamaged, as well. Falling on the stairs with a large load can be dangerous and costly. However, with a lift, it’s simple enough to wheel the trolley with the products on it into the lift and take it to the correct floor. The process is simple and safer than using the stairs and ensures your employees remain injury-free.
If you’re interested in making your business more accessible, these are just a few of the options you have to do so. A lift is perhaps one of the biggest ways to add accessibility, but it also makes life simpler for everyone who is in the business, whether employee or customer.
Contact ADL Lift Service today for more information on how we can help with lift installation. We’re lift installers and provide installation, as well as lift design services.
