Is your business on multiple levels? If so, you may wish to
install a lift to make your space more accessible. Whatever type of business
you run, you can only benefit from allowing people with all abilities to access
your business areas.
Whether you add a ramp or a lift, you open up your business
to a whole new world of clients when you make your space accessible.
Is It Mandatory?
Does your business have to install a lift? Technically,
according to The Equality Act 2010, if you are a small or medium business
owner, you need to make reasonable adjustments to prevent discrimination
against disabled customers. However, whether a lift is considered reasonable is
not terribly important in the end.
While keeping up with regulations is certainly a good idea,
it’s also good business sense to ensure that your clients can access everything
easily. If someone comes to your shop or office and they are unable to enter,
imagine how it would make them feel. It’s quite the blow and it’s quite likely
that person, nor anyone they know will set foot in your business again.
While there are other options besides a lift for providing
access to everything, a lift is usually the best choice. It allows for rapid
movement and everyone is already familiar with the idea.
It can also be used for families, new mothers, standing
people with limited mobility and wheelchair users. The sheer versatility of
lifts makes them one of the more popular choices for your needs.
Keep in mind that more than 20% of those living in the UK
have a disability and more than half of them deal with mobility issues. Do you
really want to exclude these people from your business? It’s a large number of
the population and could damage the reputation of your company if word gets out
that you are not accessible.
Disabled Employees Need Access, Too
Clients aren’t the only ones who can use the lift. If you
are open to hiring someone who is great for the job but disabled, you will need
to provide them with access to everything in the business. It’s not fair to
expect an employee to be limited in their ability to do their job simply
because you have not made the business accessible.
Unfortunately, many disabled people are unable to work due
to the lack of accessibility in the workplace. If you can move beyond this, you
have a chance at providing a job to someone who is completely capable of doing
it. All it takes is making your business a little more accessible, which
shouldn’t be a problem.
Something that many employers may not realise is that if you
do hire someone with disabilities, you may apply for support from the
government. Under Access To Work, you may apply as an employer for financial
assistance in order to make the space more accommodating to those who need it.
If you are granted the money, you may be able to use it toward becoming more
accessible and creating a better workplace.
Once you are more accessible, you not only open up your
chances of having more clients, but you also widen the hiring pool. There are
many people who are very capable and have the necessary experience and
education, but perhaps didn’t apply previously because they knew that
accessibility would be an issue.
How to Make Your Business More Accessible
There are multiple ways to be accessible, apart from
installing a lift. The lift is necessary if you have stairs, of course, and it
should be setup as soon as possible, but you should also be aware of other ways
to make your business more comfortable for those who have limited mobility.
Ramps
: For
smaller stairs where there are only two or three stairs, it’s helpful to have a
ramp to walk up instead. Outdoors, you should always include a wheelchair ramp
to help people get to the door level of the business.
Wide doors
:
Ensure that your doors are wide enough so that a large wheelchair can easily
pass through without bumping the sides. All too often, store or shop doors are
too narrow and this can make it very frustrating to get from one place to
another.
Easy access
lavatories
: Toilets should be designed to easily access them. Don’t make
sharp turns that would be impossible for a wheelchair and avoid the heavy
swinging doors that are so common in many areas. Instead, go doorless and make
it simple for someone to head to the lavatory.
Automatic doors
:
When you’re trying to manoeuvre a stroller, wheelchair or walker, opening a
door can be challenging. To avoid this problem, set up your doors so they open
automatically when someone walks or rolls up to them. This immediately makes it
much simpler to get into the building.
Non-slip floors
:
The floors in your building should be as non-slip as possible. It’s very hard
to walk in a walker or on crutches when you keep slipping. Ideally, all floors
should be anti-slip, as this is an issue that plagues many and can be quite
dangerous when the floor is damp.
With these steps you can create a more accessible space for
both clients and employees. Everyone should be free to move about, no matter
where they are and you can be the first step towards making that possible.
Installing a Lift in Your Business
Of course, one of the biggest steps toward being more
accessible is installing the lift. This is a monumental task, but one that is
well worth waiting for. First, you need a reliable lift company to do the
installation. The company technician will come and take a look at your business
and determine where the lift can be placed. There may be some minor renovations
to do in order to make the lift fit. Most companies don’t have the space for a
lift planned out yet and this is something that takes a bit of planning.
Once the location for the lift is determined, the necessary
structure will be put in. Depending on the design, you will need some power
access and possibly a space to handle all the diagnostics for the lift. The
lift should plug into the mains system and will usually have a hydraulic drive
system and a traction motor for smooth movements.
Finally, the lift can be installed and you’re ready to begin
presenting yourself as a more accessible business.
Other Benefits of a Lift in Business
Most people think of a lift as purely beneficial for those
with disabilities or limited mobility, but that’s not the only reason you want
to install a lift. In fact, when it comes to running a business, you will find
that there are several other benefits.
For example, safety is a huge concern in a business. You
want your employees to remain safe wherever they are in the building and with a
lift, you eliminate one of the most common injuries . . . a tumble down the
stairs. If your employees regularly carry heavy items up and down the stairs,
now they can use the lift. This immediately reduces the chances of injury.
Having the lift will also reduce fatigue over multiple trips
up and down the stairs in order to carry items. It’s simple enough to add boxes
to the lift and send them to the next level without worry. The less fatigued
your employees, the more eager they will be to continue working. This is a great motivator and makes carrying items a little
more entertaining.
It is surprisingly economical to install a lift and with the
added benefits it brings you, the cost is worth it. You’ll find that your
employees and your clients will greatly appreciate the opportunity to take a
lift to the next floor instead of walking.
While not all businesses will need a lift installed, there
are certainly benefits and you will be in adherence to the law, as well. Now
it’s merely a matter of maintaining the lift and ensuring that it is functional
at all times. You’ll make good use of it, as will everyone else.
Are you in the market for a lift for your business? We can
help you choose the perfect one and then install it for you. We also offer
regular maintenance services to ensure your new commercial lift will continue
working smoothly for many years to come.
Contact ADL Lift Services
today and get a quote on
your project.
