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Supporting Your Staff on Site – Your Obligations as an Employer

As the owner or operator of a construction site of any nature, you have certain obligations to support your staff with the right facilities.  One of the most important of these is the provision of welfare units.  But what are the regulations that affect sites across Worcestershire and around the UK?

Toilets

According to guidance from the Health & Safety Executive, a site should provide ‘where reasonably practicable’ the facilities of flushing toilets and running water that is connected to the mains water and drainage system.  If this isn’t possible, as is often the case at the early stage of a project, then built-in water supplies and drainage tanks should be used.  Portable chemical toilets can be used if there is no other way to offer these facilities.

Toilets need to be adequately ventilated, well lit and maintained in a clean condition.  How often this cleaning is required depends on the amount of use so daily cleaning may not always be needed.

It is also important to provide an adequate number of toilets and this depends on the number of people working on the site.  For example, portable toilets do have a limited capacity and need to have a regular emptying schedule in place.  Under BS6465-1:2006, it is recommended to have a ratio of one toilet for every 7 people on the site, assuming the portable toilet is emptied once a week.

Men and women can use the same toilets as long as they are lockable and there are partitions from any urinals.  Otherwise, separate toilets are required.  A good supply of toilet paper is also crucial.

Washing facilities

It is important to offer washing facilities beside toilets and changing areas.  These need to include:

  • Clean hot and cold or warm water supplies which should be from running water if possible
  • Soap or other types of cleaning product
  • Towels or other types of drying products
  • Sufficient ventilation and lighting
  • Sinks that are large enough to wash the face, hands and forearms

Both men and women can use the same facilities and unisex shower facilities can be provided as long as they are separate, lockable rooms that are used by one person at a time.

If the site has particularly high levels of dirt or any hazardous substances, then shower facilities will need to be separate from main facilities.  Some specialist equipment is needed if you are working with lead, asbestos or tunnelling in compressed air.

Getting the right facilities

Our experience with working in the construction industry means we can help you assess the kind of facilities that you need under the regulations.  We can also assess the site to see where it would be best to locate them in relation to other elements on the site.  We also offer regular services such as emptying toilets and are licensed waste removal specialists, so you can be sure to meet your responsibilities in this area by using our services.  Get in touch today to get a personalised quote for your project.

QUESTIONS?

Get in touch with the team.

Call: 01527 836 211

Mob: 07976 311 364

Standard Portable Toilets

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Welfare units

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