MINIMUM FACILITIES

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Information regarding welfare facilities for Operational Personnel, in particular sanitary conveniences, washing, showering and changing, is contained in the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance issued for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Regulations 20, 21, 23 and 24 apply together with the interpretation detailed below.

As workplaces vary in age, design and method of construction, this guidance gives an overall standard, which will need to be adapted for each specific location.

Propriety

The Propriety considerations associated with the facilities are as follows:

Separate toilets for men and women must be provided.

Separate changing, washing and showering facilities for men and women must be provided.

Where beds are provided on 24-hour shift stations, screening or total privacy should be made available.

Sanitary Provision - A machine offering both forms of sanitary protection and a receptacle for disposal should
be provided at each toilet designated for women. A system for regular collection should be in place.

Each First Aid Kit must contain both forms of sanitary protection in sterile packaging. There must be a proven replacement system for this provision.

Signs:

Signs must be displayed on the doors to all designated gender specific rooms and must be indicated as Men or Women.

Maintenance:

Where a defect does not pose a danger but makes the facility unusable, and this results in the number of the facilities being less than minimum standard, the defect should be repaired without delay.

Pregnancy Nursing:

A private rest area for pregnant workers and nursing mothers must be provided with appropriate hygienic milk storage equipment, access to a clean and safe water source and a sink for washing. This area must not be covered by any “recall to duty” system.

Temporary Workplaces:

Mobile toilets with sanitary provisions will be available for use at any temporary workplace e.g. operational incidents or training grounds.

SUMMARY

This document is intended to set a MINIMUM basic standard for Brigades/Services to provide for all employees. It is not appropriate to assume that current workplaces will continue to have one ‘minority employee’ to accommodate.

© Fire Brigades Union
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AE
Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee