Pedal bins in disabled/handicapped toilets

[roserodent]

Need I say more? Argh! The hospital has a special design of pedal bin that you cannot open by hand at all. It's to help with infection control so you don't have to touch the bins. So instead you have to lean out of your chair and push the bar where others have put their feet and push it with your hand. You cannot wash your hands afterwards because the paper towel goes in the pedal bin.

Who thinks of these things? Does anyone think?

Comments

[lilacsigil]

The hospital where I had blood taken last week had these! They're not good for people with balance issues either - I have to do a lot of shuffling around to organise my foot to go on the pedal. At least I don't have to touch it with my bare hand, though.

[barakta]

I suspect it's that problem of assuming they're designed for nurses and doctors who are assumed to be able bodied... People don't think of these things cos it's hard to become a nurse or a doctor if you're disabled cos even with legislation they are reluctant to implement reasonable adjustments.

I wonder what alternatives could work and still be infection controlly. Maybe IR controlled or something that was reliable and not false positiving or not working.

[amadi]

They make motion sensor trash cans with lids that open when you wave a hand over them. (Not dissimilar to the technology that works the automatic flush toilets and auto-tap sinks in a lot of public restrooms now.) You can buy them on overstock.com for the home, I'm sure there must be commercial models and sources as well.

[alchemia]

yeah, I was just going to suggest this. My mum has one in the kitchen.

[exor674]

I hate motion sensor sinks and soap dispensers... they never ever seem to want to work unless I'm in the exact right spot ( which sometimes is just outside the soap flow ) -- I know that they're useful for other people, but they're the most annoying thing ever.

[amadi]

I have issues with the sinks. They never stay on long enough to rinse my big meaty paws, so I end up frantically waving to try to get the water back on, flinging soap every where.

[roserodent]

I can't stand the motion sensor hand driers, they are the worst for me. First there is usually an issue of having to hold your hands up high, but also the sensor seems to be located behind where you have to have your hands, so it keeps going off. By the time you have found the one position that works the drier has been running for a while and is producing burning hot air that you don't want to put your hands into. You then dry your hands on your personal stash of paper towels and give it up.

My dad is terrified of motion sensor toilets. He is blind, so he doesn't know it's going to do it as he leans cautiously around to locate some form of flush button and WHOOSH!

[roserodent]

Nope, not aimed at the staff, this is specifically in the patient toilet, waiting room and patient cafeteria.

[adrian_turtle]

That's horrible. They should know better. The kind controlled by motion sensors have existed for years. The prices came down quite a bit in the last 5 years or so. (In public toilets in the US, they're using motion sensors to make toilets flush automatically when a person moves away, and towel dispensers put out a section of section of paper towel when a hand waves in front of it.) They seem to be used as infection control measures, more than accessibility things. If you have the energy, you might send a letter to management, suggesting it.

For the time being, you might try covering your hand with the damp paper towel when you lean down to push the pedal bar. It's still hard to lean out of the chair to reach, but at least you aren't touching the dirty bar without being able to wash your hands after.

Can't make a quote box!

[roserodent]

If it's possible to put a quote box in comments I haven't found it! ;) QUOTE

"For the time being, you might try covering your hand with the damp paper towel when you lean down to push the pedal bar. It's still hard to lean out of the chair to reach, but at least you aren't touching the dirty bar without being able to wash your hands after."

I'm confused how I then get the paper towel I have been holding on the push bar into the bin afterwards. The lids snap viciously and child-severingly shut the moment you release the pressure on the bar.

Oh, and I did write and complain, they informed me they just this minute bought all these new bins (I know!) but they will keep the suggestion in mind for next time they buy new bins on an authority-wide basis. So, about 5-10 years then. And just proves they did not undertake the legally required impact assessment before making this inane decision.

Re: Can't make a quote box!

[adrian_turtle]

"I'm confused about how I then get the paper towel I have been holding on the push bar into the bin afterwards. The lids snap viciously and child-severingly shut the moment you release the pressure on the bar."

Oh, ick. I was thinking of the kind of bins we have in this area, which close very, very, much slower. Your building management seems like they're actively working to create more disabled people, as well as being hostile to those already using their facility. (I have limited use of my hands. It's a sore point, so to speak.) If I were you, I'd be really tempted to just litter.