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

Doru Costin Darabont,Paul Fogarassy,Daniel Onuţ Badea,Alina Trifu,V.M Pasculescu

doi:10.1051/matecconf/202030500079

Doru Costin Darabont, Paul Fogarassy + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202030500079

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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.

Highlights

According to the World Health Organization data, it is estimated that approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment
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
The vision substitution category includes three subcategories: Electronic Travel Aid (ETAs) that are devices that gather information about the surrounding environment and transfer it to the user through sensor cameras, sonar, or laser scanners [6], Electronic Orientation Aid (EOAs) - devices that provide pedestrians with directions in unfamiliar places [7] and Position Locator Devices (PLDs) - devices that determine the precise position of its holder such as devices that use GPS technology

Summary

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization data, it is estimated that approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment. 39 million are blind and 246 million have a moderate or severe form of vision impairment [1]. In Bucharest, the General Directorates for Child Assistance and Social Protection have registered 4,354 persons with visual impairments in the three degrees of disability (Table 1). Easy to avoid for sighted peoples, became extremely dangerous for peoples without visual perception. 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 to manipulate them, and to localize and recognize them. 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

Risk assessment methodology

Tactile floors

Conclusions and further research