When it comes to protecting employees and visitors, no expense should be spared. Following a DDA audit and an audit conducted by the City Council in a bid to make Manchester a fully inclusive and accessible city, a total of £500,000 has been invested in adjustments to make G-MEX and the Manchester International Convention Centre as fully accessible as possible for disabled visitors and employees.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) became mandatory in October 2004; it seeks to ensure that disabled employees and visitors are not discriminated against. This meant that a building which allows public access had to make the necessary 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged in any way. The removal of these barriers to inclusion at G-Mex has resulted in greatly improved accessibility and safety.

The installation of a fire alarm warning and messaging system for Deaf and hard of hearing people called Deaf Alerter, which is now in place, is just one of many projects being implemented at G-MEX and the Manchester International Convention Centre.

Most people are unaware that deafness is the most common of all disabilities: nearly 15 percent of the population (9 million people) have some degree of deafness. Deaf Alerter plc, the UK's leading fire alarm warning messaging system for Deaf people, has been working with many organisations to help remove some of the more concerning higher risk barriers Deaf people face on a daily basis, one of which is not having access to fire alarm warnings in public access buildings and places of work; something most hearing people take for granted, but for Deaf people a fire alarm evacuation can be frightening and impose great danger! Fortunately, the Disability Discrimination Act is supported by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) which is forcing organisations to becoming more conscious of their duty.

The DRC website states that although the duties on physical features did not come into force until October 2004 service providers should have considered changes before then. They have been given a great deal of time by the government to assess what needs to be done and then prepare accordingly. The courts may well take into account what preparations, planning and changes service providers made in the period before October 2004 when considering whether they have met their legal duties.

Carole Marsh, Health & Safety Manager at G-MEX said:

"I attended Deaf Alerter's CPD 'Fire Safety for Deaf People - the Law and the Solutions'; it gave me a greater understanding of the barriers faced by employees and visitors with hearing difficulties and how to achieve safe access and egress from a venue, particularly in an emergency situation such as a fire.

G-MEX are committed to providing the best possible inclusively safe environment for everyone, and are pleased with the enhanced level brought by the implementation of Deaf Alerter system. I would recommend the CPD to any organisation."

Just as the Multiple Sclerosis Society has selected G-MEX as the venue for their national event it is anticipated that other disabled and non-disabled organisations will see the benefits of using a venue that is "accessible for all", and renowned for its commitment to best practice and equality.

Other recent Deaf Alerter installations, to name but a few include: New Scotland Yard, University of Manchester, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Brunel University, Hull College, Home Office, Belfast George Best Airport, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and many more...

Manchester has always been extremely forward thinking when it comes to improving access for disabled people; six years ago, in 2000, one of the city's aims was to be recognised as the most accessible city in Europe