10 steps for organisations to improve the safety and health of workers with disabilities

Analyse which workplaces and jobs in your enterprise may be suitable for employing people with disabilities. Choose these workplaces on the basis of a risk assessment of all the jobs within the enterprise.

Adapt the physical environment to suit workers with disabilities, for example adjusting premises or workstations, such as ramps; lifts; light switches; steps edged in light paint; tactile warning strips at the top of stairs; audio or warning sounds; automatic opening devices on heavy doors; door handles, bells, entry devices reachable by wheelchair users and locatable by the visually impaired; non-slip, smooth flooring. These changes may benefit not only workers, but also visitors to your enterprise.

Whenever you are making changes to the physical environment of the workplace, or buying new equipment, try to ensure that those changes or purchases are also suitable for workers with disabilities.

Take account of people’s abilities when planning work: disabled workers often have special skills, which should not be lost because of poorly adapted working conditions.

Discuss the measures with the disabled person, as the individual is usually the best person to identify what is needed.

In cooperation with the worker representatives, review the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of the adopted strategy, and make changes and corrections if necessary.

Seek advice when necessary. This may be provided by occupational safety and health services and authorities, health professionals, safety professionals and ergonomists, disability employment services or disability organisations.