Workplaces can need all sorts of equipment and tools that will vary from one industry to another, but one thing that will never change is the need for toilets.
This is why there are laws and regulations in place to make sure that everyone has access to a toilet whilst they are at work, and it is vital that all businesses adhere to this.
Here, we look at the HSE toilet requirements to highlight what your business needs to know about toilets at work.
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Adequate Toilet and Washing Facilities
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) states that employers are required to provide enough toilets and washbasins for those expected to use them, and that they should be suitable for any worker, including those with disabilities.
There should be separate toilets available for men and women unless each one is in a separate, lockable room.
Each toilet should be clean, well lit and ventilated, with hot and cold running water, soap and toilet paper. When it comes to washing, each basin should be large enough to wash the hands, and forearms if necessary, and there should also be a means of drying available.
Disabilities
It is important to ensure that toilets are suitable for everyone to use, which means that they need to be accessible for the disabled. Cubicles should be a minimum width of 1200mm if there are four or more, including an outward opening door.
Number of toilets
It can be hard to gauge how many toilets any individual workplace will need, and so the SE has set out their own guidelines which states that businesses with up to five employees need just one toilet for mixed use, those with up to 25 need two, any with less than 50 employees need three, under 75 employees needs four and businesses with between 76 and 100 employees must have at least five. Each toilet must also have a matching number of washbasins.
If only men are using the toilets, then the toilet facilities can accommodate a larger number of people.
Temporary worksites
These rules are useful when setting up a business in one location, but for many, such as the construction industry, a place of work can move. Those who have temporary worksites will still need to provide toilet facilities, but this is often done in a different way by hiring portable toilets that can be delivered to the site if needed.
If this is the case, then the HSE makes it clear that flushing toilets and running water will still need to be supplied, although chemical toilets and water containers can be used where this is not possible.
Employees should not be expected to use public toilet facilities when working on site, and so it is the responsibility of the business to ensure that there are enough toilets and washing facilities in place no matter where the worksite might be.
If you are hiring toilets for a worksite, you need to ensure that there are a sufficient number of toilets that offer disabled access, to ensure that everyone on the site can use the toilet without difficulty or unreasonable delays.
As a general rule, regulations require there to be a minimum of one toilet per seven people, per 40 hour working week on a temporary worksite. It is therefore important to calculate how many people are likely to be working on the site to ensure that you hire the correct number of facilities.
Toilets might not seem like a priority when running a business, but they are essential, so it is important to understand the regulations and requirements around them.
Get Portable Toilets today!
If your workplace requires portable toilets, then we have a range of portable toilets ideal for you. From standard toilet hire and disabled portable toilets, to welfare units for larger construction projects, we’ve got something for you, so you can contact our team today on 0345 565 2680 or drop us an email at info@getloos.co.uk for a quote.
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