23 April 2009
Inspection data from Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, shows one in four Victorian homes contain trip or slip hazards, a figure highlighting the need for more accessible housing stock.
 David Hallett |
Archicentre's General Manager David Hallett said accessibility is an important safety consideration that is best begun at the design stage. "Victorians need to start thinking about accessibility at the design stage. We need to start building homes that will be safe and convenient for the occupants throughout their lives," Mr Hallett said. Archicentre helped around one-thousand Victorians with Renovation and New Home Design Concepts last year. "If you're thinking about renovating or building, get some professional advice early to ensure optimum safety and accessibility features are considered and to avoid the on-set of preventable health and safety hazards like falls." Archicentre found a 4% rise in potentially dangerous hazards following almost 38,000 home inspections across the State. |
In regional Victoria, the municipalities of Mildura, Yarra Ranges and Greater Bendigo fared worst, recording slip and trip hazards in 60 per cent, 43 per cent and 42 per cent of the homes surveyed.
In metropolitan areas, Moreland topped the list with 45 per cent of homes found to have a slip or trip hazard, followed by 41 per cent in Mount Alexander Shire, 39 per cent in Knox and 38 per cent in Brimbank.
Mr. Hallett said the figures, gathered from free inspections provided on behalf of the State Government for people aged 60 and over and people with a disability, demonstrated the need for Victorians to rethink the way they build their homes.
"We can keep retrofitting homes to make them accessible, which is often difficult and costly, or we can incorporate accessibility into the initial design. We're talking about things like wider doors and hallways, more open spaces and street-level entries. Other improvements might include level entry showers, for instance, or slip-resistant steps."
Mr Hallett backed the Victorian
Government's Build for Life campaign, which is designed to raise public awareness
of the benefits of accessible homes.
www.archicentre.com.au
Media
Enquiries:
David Hallett General Manager Archicentre (03) 9819 4577 Mobile: 0439 439 115
Ron Smith Corporate
Media Communications Archicentre (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201