In the world of workplace safety, compliance is often seen as the finish line. But when it comes to emergency preparedness, ticking boxes isn’t enough. Inclusive emergency planning goes beyond regulations, it acknowledges that every person in a building has a right to safety, regardless of mobility, age, or ability.
Compliance Is the Minimum, Not the Goal
While safety regulations are vital, they often don’t fully account for the diverse needs of building occupants. For Instance, many compliance checks ensure fire extinguishers are present and fire drills are conducted. But how many buildings are equipped with evacuation chairs? How many have trained staff ready to assist people with disabilities during an emergency?
Meeting the bare minimum of the law may keep an organization out of legal trouble, but it doesn’t ensure the well-being of everyone inside. True leadership in safety means asking what more can we do.
The Case for Inclusive Safety
People with limited mobility face unique challenges during evacuations. Elevators shut down. Stairs become barriers. Panic spreads. And in these moments, those without a clear path to safety are left behind.
Inclusive emergency preparedness means:
- Installing evacuation chairs in multi-level buildings
- Training staff and teams on assisting people with disabilities
- Creating drills that simulate real scenarios, including evacuating non-ambulant individuals.
This isn’t just a disability issue. It is a human issue. Temporary injuries, chronic conditions, pregnancy, or age can impact mobility at any time.
Why it matters
Beyond the ethical responsibility, inclusive safety can protect organisations from reputational and legal damage. The cost of installing an evacuation chair is minor compared to the consequences of being unprepared.
Ultimately, safety should not be selective. This June, National Safety Month is a reminder that the true test of a plan isn’t how it looks on paper, it is how it performs under pressure. And only inclusive plans truly perform.