silverthorne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
silverthorne) wrote2005-03-07 11:50 am
silverthorne) wrote2005-03-07 11:50 am
Entry tags:
Mind boggling....
Or maybe I just don't have enough brain power to understand the logic here...
Anyhow, here's the set up:
I work in a section of the hospital where the hallway leads to the back end of the cafeteria and outside and through the dock where the trucks unload. There is a small area in between the two areas where there is a locker room and two bathrooms. Traffic in the area consists of unloading trucks, the carts the cafeteria uses to take food up to the rooms, the housekeeping bins with trash (because the last of my dock doors actually has the trash compactor backed up to it), and the occasional nurse too lazy to walk fifty feet to the much safer entry way to get to one of several timeclocks that are scattered throughout the first floor (my entry just happens to be closest to the parking lot).
Okay...so...
Both bathrooms have handicapped access. In fact, the women's restroom just spent last week torn up because the toilet wasn't close enough to the wall rail, so they had to move it an inch and a half closer to meet regs. With me so far? Good.
There's two things that struck me though, thinking about it.
They tore up the bathroom for an inch and half. That in and of itself makes sense...several handicapped folks, including a very nice lady that works in the MEP department, are shorter in limb than the average human. Reaching out too far can and will get someone hurt.
But I think where my logic went 'boom' was with this:
1) (not so big a deal) Most handicapped folks are not going to want to use the bathroom--it's in the equivilent of BFE nowhere within the hospital. Not only that, but it's located in an area where large, heavy, hard to control things are moved around often. Not something I imagine folks in a wheelchair, on crutches, or using a walker would want to have to worry about dodging, and certainly not with three other bathrooms located on the way that aren't host to the inside equivilent of Mac trucks.
2) Okay, so they moved the toilet closer to make the railing easier to reach and to meet specs...that's a good thing. But get this...there are two--two doors between the prospective user and said bathrooms. And they both have spring arms to close the doors. Tightly wound spring doors--that are difficult for people who aren't handicapped to open.
Now...imagine being in a chair or on crutches fighting with two doors like that...and hoping the thing doesn't slam shut with you still in the way. And neither door has an automatic button either.
Uh huh. You got it. Ouch.
So, great, you moved the toilet, guys...
Uh...that doesn't mean the people will be able to get in and use it...at least not without coming away with a few bruises or dings on their equipment...
'Specs' just do not make sense sometimes...
Anyhow, here's the set up:
I work in a section of the hospital where the hallway leads to the back end of the cafeteria and outside and through the dock where the trucks unload. There is a small area in between the two areas where there is a locker room and two bathrooms. Traffic in the area consists of unloading trucks, the carts the cafeteria uses to take food up to the rooms, the housekeeping bins with trash (because the last of my dock doors actually has the trash compactor backed up to it), and the occasional nurse too lazy to walk fifty feet to the much safer entry way to get to one of several timeclocks that are scattered throughout the first floor (my entry just happens to be closest to the parking lot).
Okay...so...
Both bathrooms have handicapped access. In fact, the women's restroom just spent last week torn up because the toilet wasn't close enough to the wall rail, so they had to move it an inch and a half closer to meet regs. With me so far? Good.
There's two things that struck me though, thinking about it.
They tore up the bathroom for an inch and half. That in and of itself makes sense...several handicapped folks, including a very nice lady that works in the MEP department, are shorter in limb than the average human. Reaching out too far can and will get someone hurt.
But I think where my logic went 'boom' was with this:
1) (not so big a deal) Most handicapped folks are not going to want to use the bathroom--it's in the equivilent of BFE nowhere within the hospital. Not only that, but it's located in an area where large, heavy, hard to control things are moved around often. Not something I imagine folks in a wheelchair, on crutches, or using a walker would want to have to worry about dodging, and certainly not with three other bathrooms located on the way that aren't host to the inside equivilent of Mac trucks.
2) Okay, so they moved the toilet closer to make the railing easier to reach and to meet specs...that's a good thing. But get this...there are two--two doors between the prospective user and said bathrooms. And they both have spring arms to close the doors. Tightly wound spring doors--that are difficult for people who aren't handicapped to open.
Now...imagine being in a chair or on crutches fighting with two doors like that...and hoping the thing doesn't slam shut with you still in the way. And neither door has an automatic button either.
Uh huh. You got it. Ouch.
So, great, you moved the toilet, guys...
Uh...that doesn't mean the people will be able to get in and use it...at least not without coming away with a few bruises or dings on their equipment...
'Specs' just do not make sense sometimes...