Closomat helps lift accessibility provision to new levels of service

The inconvenience of needing the toilet when away from home, but being unable to use the nearest available, is an issue that Closomat can address.

If you are disabled, and need a Changing Places assisted accessible WC facility, the situations can often be inconvenient – yet a couple of basic measures can be put in place by the venue which has the Changing Places that can go a long way to avoid the problem.

A Changing Places toilet facility is best practice under Building Regulations (Approved Document M 2013) and British Standards (BS8300:2018).

Provided in addition to conventional wheelchair accessible toilets, a Changing Places meets the need of those who need additional help from equipment and/or carers to deal with their intimate hygiene when away from home.

As standard, it includes more space, a peninsular WC, adult-sized height adjustable changing bench, and full room cover ceiling track hoist.

Claire Haymes, Closomat manual handling and Changing Places specialist, commented: “Under LOLER [1] Regulations, lifting equipment should be annually serviced.

“That applies to equipment such as ceiling track hoists, which are a fundamental feature of Changing Places.

“The hoist is also the piece of equipment that users of Changing Places most frequently are frustrated about- often because it has not been properly returned to its charging point.

“Obviously you can’t train facility users, but you CAN train your staff, so that they can ensure the hoist is properly relocated on each inspection or cleaning visit.”

Closomat, Britain’s leading provider of Changing Places toilets, is therefore offering a choice of packages to venues with Changing Places [2] in which it will train all relevant staff on how to operate and check the key pieces of equipment within the facility – hoist, height adjustable changing bench, and (where relevant) the height adjustable washbasin and wash & dry toilet, and/or provide annual service & maintenance of the relevant fixtures.

Claire added: “Servicing works out at less than 55p/day [3], staff training is free of charge.

“That’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind that customers are going to be happy customers, that you not only have provided suitable facilities for them, but that those facilities are properly maintained and in compliant, good working order.”

Full details of Closomat’s Changing Places offering can be found on its website, under the Changing Places tab.

The location, regarded as the ‘go to’ resource for venues looking to provide a Changing Places facility, also features links to CAD blocks (which can be downloaded for free), NBS specification clauses, top tips and white papers on the legislation and other considerations in Changing Places provision.

Sources

[1] LOLER: Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations

[2] Applies to Changing Places supplied by Closomat

[3] Based on annual service contract for one piece of equipment eg the hoist

Contact:

Closomat
Building 1, Brooklands Place,
Brooklands Road,
Sale,
Cheshire,
M33 6SD,
United Kingdom

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