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Evacuation: The ADA Link |
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By Joan Stein The events of Sept. 11, 2001, changed lives forever,and they created a turning point in this country by bringing focus to the importance of preparing and responding to emergency situations. A Harris Poll revealed that more than 50 percent of full or
part-time employees with disabilities reported that no plans have been made for a safe evacuation from their work place.Additionally, 58
percent of persons with disabilities do not know whom to contact about emergency plans for their home and community in the event of an emergency or disaster. |
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In light of the attacks of Sept. 11, maintenance and engineering managers involved in planning and preparation for facility
emergencies and evacuations must consider three
fundamental points: Threats to facilities no longer come
primarily from fire. Managers must place new emphasis on the time it takes to evacuate many people from a high-rise, commercial office
structure. It is crucial to know who is in a building and, more importantly, to understand their ability to evacuate by means of stairs. A shift in thinking The rules have changed for managers making accommodations for individuals with
disabilities, and so have strategies for complying with ADA access guidelines (ADAAG). Before Sept. 11, the conventional thinking held that asking someone if he or she had a disability could be interpreted as discrimination. Historically, such a question often was a precursor to attempts by employers to screen out individuals with disabilities from
employment opportunities. Before Sept. 11, companies generally were advised that this type of question could be asked only when absolutely essential. To a considerable extent, that is still true today. What is different is that it has
become crucial for facilities professionals to know who is in the building and what difficulties these people might have if it becomes
necessary to evacuate the building. That doesn’t mean asking whether a person has a
disability. Instead, it means asking who might need assistance and what that assistance might be. The distinction matters. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC) sets rules for employers that relate to
requesting information about someone’s disability. The federally funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) also has specific items and
suggestions. The U.S. Access Board — the agency that writes the technical and scoping requirements of the ADA — provides information and guidance.The U.S. Department of Justice also has developed materials related to emergency evacuation procedures. |
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Facility access considerations include ensuring that all
building occupants and visitors have a clear path out
in an emergency |
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