The impact of new assistive technologies on specific occupational risks for blind and visual impaired peoples

¹ National Institute for Research and Development in Occupational Safety “Alexandru Darabont” INCDPM, B-dul Ghencea 35A, Bucharest, Romania
² SC Baum Engineering, Traian Moşoiu 8 Street, Arad, Romania

^* Corresponding author: darabont_d@yahoo.co

Abstract

As employees, the blind and visual disabled peoples face specific occupational risks related to personal safety most of us are usually not aware. Many hazards, easy to avoid for sighted peoples, became extremely dangerous for peoples without visual perception. For example, an electric cable with discontinuous isolation is much easy to be avoided for sighted peoples, while for blind persons could be lethal, especially as they need to touch objects not only to manipulate them, but also to localize and recognize them. Beside orientation problems and obstacles avoidance, other less obvious threats exist. This paper presents the findings of an INCDPM study developed in collaborations with Baum Engineering that addresses the issues of using assistive materials and technologies for blind people at workplace. This assistive technologies, which are a most needed tool for the visually impaired people to access the labour market, could be also a danger if not properly installed and implemented. The most obvious risk for visual impaired persons using tactile floor, could be the slippery surfaces related accidents, if the products are not compliant. Another danger could be tactile materials for orientation; if their surface is damaged and sharp edges or corners are exposed. Such an accident could be of tremendous impact for a blind that need to rely continuously on his fingers for environment tactile exploration.