A disabled man has spoken to the media about his distressing experience when attempting to change platforms at Milton Keynes Central station. The Independent reports that Chris Nicholson, a wheelchair user, became stranded when he had to unexpectedly change platforms after a train cancelation on a recent journey. 

There was no working lift or other step-free access on the platform, and station staff told Chris that he must wait for the next available train, which was several hours away. He was left stranded on a platform in 31°c heat, with no access to toilets or refreshments. 

Staff said they were unable to help him up a flight of concrete steps, because it would go against the station’s health and safety policy. Chris decided to take matters into his own hands, and he dragged himself and his chair up a flight of steps. At the halfway point, a passenger and staff member came to his assistance. 

Chris, a former rugby player, told the publication: "If staff had been trained to help people with different disabilities, had evac chairs readily available and actually had a working lift - because that lift had been down for seven days according to the security guard.”

He added: "I'm not just the only person who's been in this situation. It's progressed further and there's a lot of people out there who have had issues on public transport. If people were trained, if people had the knowledge and understanding of what to do then we wouldn't be in this situation right now."

Chris pointed out that his experience of public transport was common for many disabled people across the country, and also affected parents with prams and pushchairs. He called for a change in policy to oblige transport operators to improve accessibility. The train operator, Avanti West Coast, later issued an apology for the incident.

If you would like some information about a wheelchair platform lift, please get in touch today.

The Equality Act 2010, which was previously covered under the Disability Discrimination Act, is designed to legally protect people in the workplace and wider society from unfair treatment. The legislation includes certain obligations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which includes access to lifts.

Buildings intended for public use fall under the Equality Act. This includes making reasonable adjustments for physical features on the premises which could prohibit or hinder access to a disabled person. For example, toilets should have wide doors and adapted facilities, and steps and stairs which can’t be avoided should be removed or altered.

In some cases, this will necessitate the installation of a lift. Employers and service providers are recommended to consult Buildings Regulations when planning to install a lift, to ensure that it conforms to the Equality Act, and is suitably adjusted to the needs of disabled users. Lifts are specifically discussed in Part M of the Buildings Regulations.

Most lift manufacturers will ensure that their products are compliant with UK Building Regulations and the Equality Act as a standard practice, but it is advisable to be aware of the specific guidelines. These include the following main points:

·         The lift must be suitable to accommodate a wheelchair user, with a clear landing of at least 1.5m in length and width, directly in front of the lift door at every level.

·         The doors must have a clear opening width of at least 0.8m.

·         The load capacity must be at least 400kg.

·         Tactile indicators must be provided alongside the lift buttons to identify each storey.

·         The lift must have a dwell time of five seconds before its doors begin to close after they fully open.

·         When the lift serves more than three storeys, visual and audible indicators must be provided to identify the floor reached.

If you are looking for a wheelchair platform lift, please get in touch today.