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Employers must provide a safe and healthy workplace and working environment for their employees. Factors such as workspace, lighting, ventilation, temperature, cleanliness, traffic routes, falls, building structures (i.e. drainage, windows and doors, etc.) and welfare facilities (i.e. toilets, wash-hand basins, changing accommodation) should all be taken into account.
The workplace, equipment and devices must be kept clean and in good working order. A maintenance and cleaning programme should be devised which is appropriate to the equipment.
Enclosed workplaces must be well ventilated, where possible by fresh air, so that stale air, and air that is hot or humid because of any processes or equipment, is replaced.
A reasonable temperature must be maintained (usually a minimum of 13OC for strenuous physical work and 16OC for other work). A thermometer should be provided in all workplaces, and the means of heating or cooling provided must not give off noxious fumes.
Adequate lighting must be provided in all workplaces, where possible by means of natural light. Emergency lighting must be provided in situations where the failure of the main lighting would create a danger.
All workplaces and furniture must be cleanable and kept clean. Rubbish must be kept in suitable waste containers and must not be allowed to accumulate.
All workplaces should have sufficient unoccupied space to ensure the health and safety of occupants and allow them to move around safely. The recommended space per person is 11 cubic metres.
Workstations must be suitable for the user and the tasks intended to be performed, and should allow rapid evacuation in emergencies. Where work can be carried out sitting down, seating, and if necessary a footrest, must be provided.
Floors and traffic routes must not create slipping, tripping or falling risks, through obstructions, worn carpets, holes, uneven surfaces, snow/ice, etc. Traffic routes should be arranged to allow both pedestrian and vehicular traffic to move around safely. Open sides of stairways should be fenced if there is a risk of falling through.
Measures must be taken to prevent people falling from heights, and objects falling on to people below.
Where there is a risk of contact with and subsequent breakage of glazed areas, the glazing should be made of a safety material, or otherwise protected against breakage and be clearly marked to make it conspicuous.
Where windows and skylights can be opened, it must be possible to do this safely. Windows must also be easy to clean safely.
Doors and gates should be fitted with any necessary safety devices. In particular, sliding doors and gates should be fitted with devices to prevent them from leaving their tracks and upward opening doors and gates should have devices to prevent them falling back. Powered doors and gates must be fitted with a device to prevent trapping injuries and a manual over ride, unless they open automatically in power failures. Escalators must be fitted with suitable safety devices and emergency stop controls.
Clean toilets and washing facilities must be provided and kept in good condition with adequate ventilation. Separate conveniences for male and female should be provided except where the convenience is in a separate room, the door of which is capable of being locked from the inside to ensure total privacy. Washstations should have hot and cold running water, soap and towels, and should be large enough to allow the hands, face and forearms to be properly washed. Where the work is particularly dirty or strenuous, or where contamination with harmful or offensive materials is possible, showers should also be provided.
A supply of wholesome drinking water should always be available together with cups or other drinking vessels. Tap water supplied directly from the water main, is adequate.
Suitable accommodation should be provided for the storage of clothing which is not worn during working hours, and for special clothing such as uniforms, overalls, thermal clothing etc. which is worn at work but is not taken home. The accommodation should be in a well-ventilated, warm, dry and clean place, and measures should be taken to ensure security.
Where employees have to wear special clothing for work, and for reasons of health or propriety they cannot change elsewhere, changing facilities should be provided.
Facilities for eating meals and preparing hot drinks should be provided where employees regularly take meals at work or where food would become contaminated if eaten at the workstation. Where hot food cannot be obtained within a reasonable distance of the workplace, facilities for heating food should also be made available. Facilities should include tables and seats with backrests. Seats in work areas such as offices are acceptable as eating facilities provided they are sufficiently clean and there is a suitable surface on which to place food. Arrangements should be made in rest areas to protect non-smokers from the discomfort of tobacco smoke.
Facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers to rest should be provided. These should include a facility for lying down.
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