A disabled woman who suffered discrimination on a disability awareness course run by a city council has been given £2,000 for injury to feelings in an out of court settlement.

The woman, who was a youth worker for a youth association, attended a two-day training course run by Liverpool City Council. On the first day of the course, the woman, who uses a colostomy bag, was forced to tell fellow delegates about her condition when she discovered she could not change her colostomy bag in a nearby toilet because there was no sanitary disposal box.

She was then obliged to search the building for a sanitary disposal unit, but none was found.

Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, said the settlement provided a strong reminder that the rights of disabled people go beyond just physical access to buildings, and included ensuring people with long-term health conditions can participate equally in services and training.

Furthermore, the case reflects the seriousness that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, places on issues such as impaired dignity of disabled persons, as a contributory factor to discrimination.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 has now been introduced and is effective from April 2005.

The Regulation has been introduced as a consequence of an increasing trend in falls from height whilst at work. This disturbing trend accounts for serious accidents at work, using both stepladders and conventional ladders, in addition to those working from platforms.

So regardless as to whether you are an Employer, Employee or Contractor this Regulation will apply to you. A place is "at height" if a person could be injured falling from it, even if it is at or below ground level.

A separate Risk Assessment will now be required in order to address hazards associated with working at height, namely Avoidance, Planning, Training, Fragile surfaces, Maintenance, Access, Inspections, Falling Objects and to generally ensuring a Safe System of Work, including the appointment of a Duty Holder.

A particular area of concern for HSE is the number of major injuries caused by low falls - it's worth pointing out that there are more major injuries resulting from low falls than from falls above 2 metres. The new regulations remove the old division between low and high falls; the '2-metre rule' for high falls has not been retained because duty holders need to prevent falls from any height.

Confusion still abounds, as to what are reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and whether they should be undertaken. Many Property Managers together with Employers have still yet to address many of the primary issues.

Simply ask yourself, what would happen if a Disabled Client decides to visit, or if a Disabled applicant applies for Employment. Can you provide access and welfare facilities. Are you able to provide suitable arrangements for Disabled Employees?

The Governments draft bill for reform was presented to Parliament in March 2005. It proposes a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter.