Accessibility Statement

Accessibility statement for Cleveland Fire Brigade. This accessibility statement applies to content published by Cleveland Fire Brigade on the www.clevelandfire.gov.uk domain.

This website is run by Cleveland Fire Brigade. We want to ensure as many people as possible can use this website and access our information. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
  • view the website using any device e.g., mobile phone, tablet, desktop computer;
  • view and understand content where we use colour. We will ensure that colours used have a sufficient colour contrast;
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader;
  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard;
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software;
  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts;
  • use the language translation box at the bottom right of the page to change the website in to eight languages (this does not include third-party content like the twitter feed; performance portal);
  • use the Browsealoud icon at the top of the screen to hear an audio version (this does not include third-party content like the twitter feed and performance portal); and
  • users have the option to decide if they want cookies to be set.

We have designed this website with features that make it easier to use by everyone. We aim to reach level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These are the international standards for accessible websites and content. We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbiltyNet (external website) has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

Most of this website is complaint with the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard.  However, there are some parts that are not fully accessible:

  • Some documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • Browsealoud does not extend to third-party content such as twitter feed and our performance portal
  • Some images may contain text
  • Pages with embedded maps using our ESRI Maps product (these maps cannot be read by a screen reader)

We are currently making improvements to the Accessibility of this website to reduce these issues.

What to do if you can’t access parts of this website

If you need information on this website in a different format such as an accessible PDF, large print, easy read, or audio recording please either:

Email: communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01429 874035
Write to: Communications Team, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Training and Administration Hub, Endeavour House, Queens Meadow Business Park, Hartlepool, TS25 5TH

We’ll consider your request and get back to you within ten working days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘Contact Us’ page, you can email us at communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk asking for directions.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please email: communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk or contact us using the contact details above.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) (external website).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Cleveland Fire Brigade is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:

  • PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software, this does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

We will ensure that any new documents added are accessible.

We are also working to reduce the number of PDF and Word documents and are aiming to make as many as possible available on the website itself in HTML format or online forms. However, due to the nature of some of the content being either prohibitively lengthy or presenting complex financial information or performance data we may not have the resources to convert.

We are prioritising:

  • documents which have essential information about how to access our services;
  • forms which can’t be submitted online; and
  • documents which are regularly downloaded

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

We are working to fix most of the accessibility problems with this website. But there are some things that we may not fix because the content is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations, and to fix them all would take too much time relative to the benefit of our users.

PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards – for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

When we publish new content, we’ll make sure any PDFs or Word documents are accessible or will use alternate accessible formats such as HTML webpage.

We do not plan to fix every older non-essential document as they are exempt from the accessibility regulations. However, we aim to fix current issues on PDFs and Word documents or replace them with accessible HTML pages by December 2023.

If a new document is published that we have not been able to make accessible, we will make this clear on the page holding the document information. Along with details of when the document will be fixed by or how to obtain the information in a different format.

Protocols and guidance’s will be developed that will help us produce and publish PDF’s or word documents to meet accessibility standards.

Documents designed for print and creative content

Some of our documents have been designed for print and as such may not be accessible for screen readers. Some documents also contain artistic and creative content and are not accessible by screen readers.

Third-party content

Third-party content on our website that is neither funded nor developed by, nor under the control of, the public sector body may also not be accessible. For example, social media widgets and plugs – for example the Twitter feed on our homepage.

Disproportionate burden

In 2020, we issued a disproportionate burden claim on our website referring to audio description on pre-recorded film. Since making this claim, we made the decision to remove the five videos which were on our website as they were out of date, and we haven’t added any further film content. If we decide to produce future content using film, we will ensure we follow WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.5 (audio description) and declare within an updated accessibility statement.

How we tested this website

This website was last tested in November 2022. The test was carried out manually by our Communications Team using a range of online accessibility reporting tools such as Lighthouse, WAVE and AXE. As well as using Monsido for an automated testing of the full website and was in consultation with our website hosts VIA Creative.

We have purchased accessibility testing software from Monsido and plan to use this going forward to help us identify and resolve issues found on our website regularly. Pages are also spot-checked manually using the free version of axe-DevTools and Chrome plug-ins Lighthouse and WAVE. As well as colour contrast checked on WebAIM.

The website will continue to be audited annually and any required changes discovered because of these tests will be implemented within one month.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are always open to suggestions, additions, or the reporting of accessibility programs. Users can use the contact details supplied above.

This website is reviewed on a weekly basis by Monsido, a third-party organisation, which tests every page on the website for spelling errors, broken links and accessibility issues against A and AA accessibility standards.

Monsido has been set up to schedule a test of the site every seven days, with the reports monitored closely by the Communications team.

We have made the following improvements in October/November 2022:

  • made the back to top button accessible via keyboard tabbing (WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard);
  • made the keyboard tab focus visible across site (WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible);
  • reduced the use of significant content of text on images on the banner carousel (WCAG 1.4.5 Images of Text);
  • ensured the banner image carousel has a feature to pause and stop (WCAG 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide) and will be working with our external supplier to explore the hide option in 2023;
  • increased the colour contrast of text and hyperlinks (WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast)
  • added alternative texts to visible images across the website and carousel (WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content)
  • ensured links have discernible text (WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose and WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value) and;
  • ensured correct use of ARIA attributes (WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value).

We understand that maintaining an accessible website is an ongoing project and are working to resolve identified accessibility issues which are within our control. We continue to improve the accessibility of documents and pages, prioritising those that are viewed most often.

We will regularly monitor the accessibility of the website and ensure our team and web developers keep up to date with the latest accessibility best practice.

Along with providing regular training to those administering the site. We also plan to continue to work with our external partners to improve the accessibility of some of our forms.

We are also talking with suppliers to resolve any identified accessibility issues where we do not have direct control over their product. We will ensure that any future systems we purchase adhere to web accessibility guidelines.

Our future focus will very much be on ensuring newer, current information is accessible. However, we also plan to:

  • Re-audit our content annually
  • Where possible publish on-page HTML content instead of PDFs
  • Look at creating HTML forms instead of document-based forms

In the meantime, if you are unable to access a document, please contact us. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in the timescales outlined above.

This statement was prepared on 17/11/2022. It was last reviewed on 22/08/2023.

Website Disclaimer

Cleveland Fire Brigade makes every effort to keep the information on this website up-to-date and accurate, but we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage which may happen from using any information included within it.

The Cleveland Fire Brigade website and material relating to government information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided ‘as is’, without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

We do not warrant the functions contained in the material contained in this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy, reliability of the materials. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of the Cleveland Fire Brigade website.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

If you find anything on this website which you believe to be inaccurate or incorrect and would like us to rectify it, please let us know by emailing: communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk