Health, safety and welfare provisions for employees
It is a requirement that the business provides a healthy and safe working environment for all its employees and should also take into account their welfare needs.
These requirements will apply to most but not all workplace environments. Mines, quarries, temporary mobile and construction worksites are covered by separate legislation. Domestic premises and modes of transport such as planes, trains and road vehicles are also excluded.
A brief outline of requirements follow but for more detail refer to the HSE’s free leaflet Workplace health, safety and welfare
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Health
Ventilation – an adequate supply of fresh, clean air drawn from outside should be available to workers. It should be uncontaminated and circulated through workrooms.
Temperature – in indoor workrooms a reasonable working temperature of about 13 – 16 degrees should be maintained for strenuous work.
There should be local heating or cooling where a comfortable temperature cannot be maintained throughout the work area (e.g. near furnaces or refrigeration plants).
There should be thermal clothing and rest facilities available wherever necessary (e.g. for hot or cold storage).
Heating systems should be provided which does not give off dangerous or offensive fumes.
Work rooms should provide sufficient space for the work activity.
Lighting – Good lighting (wherever possible from a natural source) but avoiding glare.
Ensure that a suitable light source is used (eg some fluorescent tubes flicker and can give the impression that certain rotating machinery has stopped)
Provide special fittings for flammable and explosive atmospheres (eg in paint spray booth)
Cleanliness - The business should provide clean premises, furniture and fittings.
There should be suitable containers provided for waste.
Dirt, refuse and waste materials should be removed at regular intervals.
All spillages should be removed promptly.
Space provided – all work space areas should be sufficient for employees to move about safely.
Work stations and seating – These should be a suitable fit for the work and the worker and should allow to people to leave the workstation quickly and safely in case of emergency. Seating back-rests should support the small of the back and where necessary, foot rests should be provided.
Work benches should be at a sensible height and there should be easy access to control panels on equipment.
Safety
Workplace - The workplace and equipment provided should be well maintained.
Glazing should be made safe and where necessary should have manifestation applied, be painted, be thick or toughened.
Good drainage should be provided where a wet process is carried out.
In outdoor workplaces protection against the weather should be provided where practicable.
During icy conditions all outdoor routes should be kept safe by slating/sanding, and be swept.
Other considerations include siting of furniture and machinery, provision of space, marking and loading of floors.
Floors and thoroughfares – All stairways, corridors and floors should be kept free from obstructions (such as cabling).
Floor surfaces should be dry, not slippery.
Outside areas should be well lit.
Surfaces should be level and even.
There should be handrails on stairs and ramps.
Doors should be safe (eg panels for vision in solid doors and powered doors should have sensitive edges.
Windows – should be supplied so that they can be opened and cleaned safely. They should be designed to prevent people bumping into them or falling out. Where necessary they should be constructed of toughened material to prevent breakage. If there is a danger of people coming into contact they should be suitably marked or have features incorporated into them to make them easily visible.
Welfare
Toilets and washing facilities - Clean well ventilated toilets should be provided with separate facilities for men and women unless each convenience has its own lockable door.
Wash basins with hot (or warm) and cold running water, soap and towels(or hand driers).
Where there is dirty work or possible emergencies such as chemical spillage, showers should be made available.
Wherever necessary, skin cleansers with nail brushes, barrier cream or skin conditioning cream should be supplied.
Drinking water – There should be a supplied source of clean drinking water with an upward jet or cups. It should, where necessary, be clearly marked to differentiate it from non drinkable supplies.
Changing facilities and clothing accommodation – Lockers or a hanging space for clothing should be provided. Where special clothing is required to be worn, changing facilities should be provided. The facilities should allow for the drying of clothing.
Rest facilities and meals – Suitable rest facilities should be provided including areas to eat food which may otherwise become contaminated. Provision should be made to protect non smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke. There should also be suitable rest areas for pregnant and nursing mothers.
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Edmund house, 27 St. James's Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 3JD