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SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

INTEGRATED ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS REGULATION

Ensuring the Safety of all your Customers and Employees

 

AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation

AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Compliance Deadline

Ensuring the safety and security of all customers and employees is an important concern to organizations.

Effective January 1, 2012, organizations have public safety responsibilities to their customers and employees under both the Information and Communication and Employment Standards, contained within the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.

 

Information and Communication Standard – Public Safety Requirements – January 1, 2012

  • Organizations that prepare emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and make the information available to the public shall provide the information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request. (Part II, Sect 13, IASR)

Employment Standard – Public Safety Requirements – January 1, 2102

  • Organizations need to provide employees with disabilities with emergency response information that is tailored to the employee’s needs, if the employees disability is such that individualized information is necessary and where the employer is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. (Part III, Sect. 27.1, IASR)
  • If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance and with the employee’s consent, the employer shall provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by the employer to provide assistance to the employee. (Part III, Sect. 27.2, IASR)
  • Employers shall provide the information required as soon as practicable after the employer becomes aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. (Part III, Sect. 27.2, IASR)

What is emergency and public safety information?

There are many types of emergency and public safety information. For example:

*  Maps, warning signs and evacuation routes, such as a “Warning: High Voltage” sign or a map pointing out emergency exits, contact numbers for a variety of emergencies for residents/tenants.

*  Emergency plans and procedures, such as tour boat instructions on how to use a lifejacket, instructions for residents and tenants what to do to ensure the safety of all in a pool or spa area.

*  Information you give the public and/or tenants about alarms or other emergency alerts, such as a brochure explaining how a hotel fire alarm works, evacuation and fire safety procedures included in tenant and resident handbooks.

Under the Standards, what do you have to do?

*  Provide emergency procedures, plans or public safety information that are made available to the public in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

*  Give employees with disabilities emergency response information that is tailored to the employee’s needs;

*  Get the employees consent, and then share this information with anyone designated to help them in an emergency

*  Review the emergency response information when:
- the employee changes work locations;
- you review the employee’s overall accommodation needs;
- you review your organization’s emergency response policies.

 

NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS?

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