Making Sites Accessible for Everyone

“Site visits are not wheelchair accessible.”

Last week I visited two South West Water sites in Devon, with Alexandra Shorney and Nick Gilbert, to better understand CDM roles and responsibilities, as well as site safety.

I was left speechless when I arrived at Site 1 to find that Kier Group had paved a disabled space (with painted lines)! This meant that I was able to safely access the site office with ease. The Site Manager, Steve, then drove us along the pipe route, meaning the whole visit was accessible for all.

In the afternoon, we headed to Site 2 where Galliford Try had also made an accessible parking space with compacted sand and had ordered in a disabled toilet.

These are just two examples of adaptions that enable the construction and water industry to become more accessible, removing barriers to overcome challenges.

This is incredibly emotional for me, as so often as a wheelchair user I am fighting for the bare minimum, for my access needs to be met and for my voice to be heard. But these site visits have shown what is possible and what needs to be seen as a new standard.

This is inclusion.

This is equity.

This is independence, dignity and SO MUCH MORE!