On this page you will find examples of technical aids that the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund has provided free of charge to people who need them for work and workplace adaptations.
Visual aid: screen reader
The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund has provided employees with visual impairments (such as a translator, a librarian, and a teacher) with free screen readers as a work-related technical aid, enabling them to work on paper-based materials.
Visual aid: digital magnifier, screen magnification program
These technical aids are used by people to work on computers or paper documents (such as accounting). The digital magnifier may be of help in overcoming vision related barriers, with screen magnification or screen reading programs being of help when working with a computer.
Mobility aid: chair lift on the stairs
The employee has difficulties walking up and down stairs, but has to do so several times each day when performing their duties. As a solution, a chair lift was installed on the stairs, moving in both directions and allowing the employee to move using the stairs.
Mobility aid: cargo trike
A cargo trike was purchased by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund for a client who works as a janitor. Due to a special physical need, the client has difficulty walking. The bike allows the employee to move about within the territory of his workplace and carry his work equipment in the cargo box.
Mobility aid: wheelchair-equipped self-balancing vehicle
A wheelchair-equipped self-balancing vehicle was given to a client of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund whose job requires moving between different locations. The technical aid also makes it possible to move across difficult terrain and is lighter than an electric wheelchair – meaning that it can also be transported by car. However, the self-balancing vehicle is not suitable for all wheelchair users because it requires a good sense of balance.
Mobility aid: stair climber
The stair climber has been purchased for wheelchair users. It is not possible to install a lift or platform lift in every working environment, in which case the wheelchair user is assisted by a stair climber. A colleague’s help is needed when using a stair climber because it cannot be used independently.
Hand-operated technical aid: height-adjustable desktop and trolley
The pneumatic height-adjustable desktop allows the furniture industry employee to place the necessary details on the table and assemble the furniture frame at different heights. In addition, the employee was given an adjustable-height trolley to lift the furniture board.
Work-related technical aid: stackers
If the employee is incapable of lifting heavy loads due to reduced work ability, but their assigned tasks include lifting and transporting heavy weights, a stacker may be helpful.
Work-related technical aid: step board
Due to their much shorter than average height, the restaurant’s dishwasher could not reach to wash dishes or put them on the shelf. With a lightweight and easily portable technical aid, they are able to duly perform their tasks.
Hand-operated technical aid: touchpad
Not all people are able to use a standard computer mouse. As an alternative, the unemployment fund has provided the client with a stand-alone touchpad, similar to a laptop touchpad, to use as a work-related aid. It can be used without moving your fingers.
Work-related technical aid: electric lifting table
A wheelchair-user uses an electric lifting table as a work-related technical aid in repairing objects. In its lowest position, it is possible to place objects on the table and adjust the table to a suitable height during the course of work.
Workplace adaptation: thresholds, door automation, platform
In the framework of the workplace and equipment adaptation service, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund has reimbursed employers for the cost of works related to accessibility improvements, such as the acquisition and installation of thresholds, door automation, and the installation of a lower platform at a shop’s cash register. Each adaptation is individual, and the solution is found on a case-by-case basis.
Work-related technical aid: car lift
One might assume that a car lift is a standard tool in the car repair shop. However, it is not always the case, and, in some cases and environments, a lift may only be necessary because of the reduced work ability of the employee and the specific nature of the tasks involved. We solve each situation individually. As the company’s activities did not require the use of a car lift, but the employee’s health and duties made its use necessary, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund provided the use of a car lift as a work-related technical aid free of charge.
Work-related technical aid: height-adjustable keyboard, a mouse stand and a monitor
A height-adjustable keyboard, a mouse stand and a monitor attached to the desktop is an alternative to a height-adjustable desk, allowing you to work in an upright position.
Hand-operated technical aid: balancer, cordless screwdriver and nail gun
The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund has provided the employee of a timber company with a balancer for hanging tools, a one-handed cordless screwdriver and a nail gun as work-related technical aids for the employee’s special needs.
Hand-operated technical aid: electrical scissors
The craftsman needed electrical scissors, the use of which reduces the load on the hands and helps to work painlessly longer.
Desk bikes
The client is an office worker, mainly based in home office. Their joints have limited ability due to illness and joint pain hinders them in completing work assignments.
The client has difficulties being in a forced position and pain is intensified while sitting down. They have a height adjustable desk, but alternating between a sitting position and a standing position is not enough. The joints need to experience frequent mobility so that the pain does not intensify. Therefore, the client often needs to interrupt their work.
A desk bike would make it possible to keep the leg joints mobile while completing work assignments in a sitting position at the same time.
Cordless pruning shears
The client works as a florist in a flower shop. Their mobility and hand functions are impaired and it is difficult for them to prepare flower arrangements. It is particularly difficult to prepare wreaths and arrangements where different branches or plants with stronger stems need to be used.
The client was provided with cordless pruning shears that help cut branches or stems with less physical force from the hands.
There are various different pruning shears, incl. cordless types, but the client’s diminished working ability made it important for the product to be lightweight. They were provided with pruning shears that have a battery that is separate from the shears and can be “worn”.
Speech amplifier
The client works as a teacher. In addition to other limitations, their speech is impaired and their voice is weak. Due to their diminished working ability, the client was provided with a speech amplifier as a necessary technical aid to remove work-related hindrances.
There are different technical solutions for speech amplification, but generally it is a system that consists of a speaker, a transmitter and a receiver. The system is generally not easily portable. In this case the client needed a portable device due to the nature of their work. Though products like this are scarce, the search for a technical aid suitable for the client was successful.
Smartwatch
The smartwatch is a widespread and commonly used device for counting steps, conducting payment and various other activities, but in this case it is a work-related technical aid.
The client works as a sanitation worker in both indoor and outdoor areas. There are many rooms, the territory is huge and the work assignments vary. In normal circumstances, a mobile phone is used to communicate work assignments, but the client’s hearing is impaired: they cannot hear the phone, cannot keep track of it constantly while working and might not feel it vibrate in their pocket. Calls and messages that arrive on a smartwatch that vibrates on their wrist are easier to perceive and follow, making the employee quickly reachable for colleagues.
In addition to the above, the client also receives an SMS message on the smartwatch (via a mobile phone) if a fire alarm is activated in the workplace. For this to work, it is necessary to add a supplemental device to the automatic fire system (ATS).
Guillotine
The client works as a florist and due to hand impairments, the cutting of plant stems is challenging for them.
We have previously provided clients who have similar needs with electric pruning shears or with so-called carpet scissors, which can be used to cut stronger stems one at a time.
The guillotine makes it possible for the client to cut several plant stems at once and its use decreases their hindrances related to cutting.
