How to make compliant workplace facilities in your hospitality business.

This article has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email.

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Workplace facilities are a key part of keeping your team safe and healthy at work. In the UK, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set out what you need to provide. Things like toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, and places to rest and eat are all covered. It's about more than just following the law, though. Making sure your staff have what they need to feel comfortable at work helps them stay focused and productive.

In the US, OSHA's Sanitation standard (1910.141) lays out the rules. You'll need to give your team access to toilets, sinks, potable water, and spaces for breaks. It's all about creating a work environment that's clean, safe, and supports your staff's wellbeing.

So, as an employer, it's important to keep on top of workplace facilities. Regularly check that everything's in good working order and meets the standards. Listen to your team's needs and act quickly if any issues pop up. Putting your people first is just good business sense. Plus, you'll be keeping on the right side of health and safety laws too.

Workplace facilities arrangements

  • •Responsible Persons should ensure that welfare facilities are adequate for the workforce and available back of house.
  • •Conduct a risk assessment of welfare provision to ensure the provision is suitable and sufficient. This includes the welfare of any new and expectant mothers.
  • •Ensure that welfare facilities are suitable and include satisfactory lighting for tasks performed, adequate hot, cold, and drinking water provision, sanitary conveniences, hand washing facilities, space to take breaks, and a sufficient temperature to work in.
  • •Ventilation must be appropriate and in keeping with food safety requirements.
  • •Arrange regular inspections of pedestrian traffic routes to ensure they are not obstructed.
  • •Supply training to all staff and ensure instruction is recorded.
  • •Arrange for welfare arrangements to be monitored and reviewed to ensure that they remain sufficient.

Responsible Persons should ensure that welfare facilities are adequate for the workforce and available back of house.

Conduct a risk assessment of welfare provision to ensure the provision is suitable and sufficient. This includes the welfare of any new and expectant mothers.

Ensure that welfare facilities are suitable and include satisfactory lighting for tasks performed, adequate hot, cold, and drinking water provision, sanitary conveniences, hand washing facilities, space to take breaks, and a sufficient temperature to work in.

Ventilation must be appropriate and in keeping with food safety requirements.

Arrange regular inspections of pedestrian traffic routes to ensure they are not obstructed.

Supply training to all staff and ensure instruction is recorded.

Arrange for welfare arrangements to be monitored and reviewed to ensure that they remain sufficient.

The requirements of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (new ACOP 2002) should be made known to all staff. All employees are encouraged to make pertinent suggestions as to the safe use of such facilities and are always required to keep them clean.

No deliveries/materials are to be stored in the rest rooms/break out areas. Those who desire to smoke must do so only in the designated smoking areas or away from the premises.