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HAUC
HAUC

Working with wheelchair users in mind: During works

This Guide takes you through how we should be working to help people who need to use a wheelchair.

Our Safety Code states:

"You must consider the needs of children, older people and disabled people, with particular regard for visually impaired people", and you must provide: "a safe route suitable for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams or pushchairs".

Even small changes cause problems. If we must close a footway as part of our planning works, then the surface we provide must be adequate for the safety of all road users.

For wheelchair users, this means we must help them to understand how we’ve changed or have plans to change the physical environment.

You must make sure that:

  • Footway and carriageways are in a good state for walking.
  • Walkways are set up as per legislation to ensure safe passage.
  • Any ramps in use must be stable, secure, with walkways wide enough to allow full swing for negotiating sites safely.
  • Routes are explained and, if appropriate, customers are guided through the site.
  • Diversions do not put the public in danger – do not divert through underpasses or dimly lit areas.
  • Changes to access and impacts on transport (Bus Stops etc), are explained.

Talk about the routes taken by wheelchair users. Make a note of them, identify ramps. Don’t make assumptions, ask questions and log any details about access and travel.

Early communication is vital, so make sure you also account for changes to transport routes. Remember, those routes aren’t set by us, but this information is key to ensuring safe Street and Road works.

A bad setup is one that include things like uneven surfaces, kerbs and steps or steep slopes, or obstruction hazards of any kind in less well-travelled diversion routes – as well as poorly lit footways or badly-communicated changes to Bus Stop locations.

Uneven pavement surface
Hazardous kerb edge

In some situations, such as emergency works carried out at short notice, it may be hard to cater for everyone’s needs.

Site operatives and supervisors can achieve a good setup by assessing location risks as set out in the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works.

Example of a good setup

This applies not only for the visually impaired but also for people who are hard of hearing or are visually impaired.

Large or small, every piece of work has an impact. That’s especially true for people who are vulnerable – people with disabilities. We want all of our street and highway works to be safe and compliant, and must assess every location, all of the time.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Have I made the site safe to work in and safe for the general public?
  • Whichever way they approach these works, will people using this road or footway understand what is happening and what’s expected of them?
  • Is there anything else I could do, to improve this situation?

This video is 15 minutes long. Please watch it, as it provides an excellent overview of how we can help all kinds of vulnerable people with some memorable examples.

Finally, in some situations – such as short notice emergency works – it may be hard to cater for everyone’s needs. But site operatives and supervisors must still assess location risks as set out in the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works.