Barrier-free workplaces
If a company employs people with disabilities, the areas of the workplace to which employees with disabilities must have access must be designed to be barrier-free. Helpful planning support is provided by the employers' liability insurance associations, for example.
Indoor and outdoor areas of a company can be designed with ramps or automatic door openers so that employees with disabilities can move and work independently. Accessibility not only increases productivity, but also reduces the risk of accidents. If barrier-free principles are incorporated into new buildings and conversions, this saves costs in the long term and benefits all employees.
This article at a glance:
Requirements for barrier-free workplaces
Accessibility refers to the workplace, but also to work equipment such as hardware and software, doors and stairs, traffic routes, escape routes, emergency exits, orientation systems, lighting, washrooms and toilets and furniture.
Requirements for barrier-free workplaces
- Perceptibility
- Recognizability
- Accessibility
- Usability
- Controllability by the user
Design principles
In order to meet as many needs of people with disabilities as possible, there are far-reaching design principles that go beyond ergonomic standards.
Design for the group with the most extensive needs
Here, planning is geared towards ensuring that as many people as possible can participate, taking into account a specific usage situation in which employees or other people have the most extensive needs.
Example: In a hospital, the doors must be wide enough for nursing staff to push beds through and for people in wheelchairs to pass through. In this case, the group with the most extensive needs is the nursing staff.
Two-channel principle (good accessibility and usability)
The design principle of good accessibility and usability applies here. This means that when using a product, a low or non-existent ability is replaced by an alternative ability.
Example: Activities must be able to be carried out with one hand or be possible both standing and sitting.
Two-senses principle
The two-senses principle must be adhered to when designing barrier-free buildings. This involves designing according to the principle of good perceptibility and recognizability. This means that at least two of the three senses of sight, hearing or touch must be addressed. However, it should be noted that not all people are taken into account.
Example: For deaf and blind people, alarm signals must be audible and visible or emit a vibration signal at the same time. However, deaf-blind people cannot perceive purely acoustic-visual signals, which must be taken into account during planning.
Legal and design requirements for barrier-free workplaces are set out in the German Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), the technical rules for workplaces (ASR) and various DIN standards and regulations (e.g. DIN 18040 on barrier-free construction, DIN EN ISO 6285 on ergonomics, VDU workstation ordinance).
Risk assessment as a basis for planning
The central instrument in occupational health and safety is the risk assessment. A systematic examination of the workplace shows where there are accident or other health risks and what changes need to be made. Escape routes are particularly important here. Trained occupational safety specialists carry out such risk assessments. The employers' liability insurance associations can also provide advice and support.
Advice and possible service providers
Companies can obtain advice on barrier-free planning and design from the employers' liability insurance associations. For special disability-specific aspects (e.g. visual impairment, hearing impairment), the technical advisory services of the Integration Office/Inclusion Office or the Federal Employment Agency provide support.
Help is also available from the Chambers of Crafts, Chambers of Architects and Engineers or experts specializing in accessibility.