Welfare facilities
The sanitary and welfare provisions that employers must make available to employees at work, including toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas and changing rooms. Minimum standards are set by regulation in each jurisdiction.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“welfare facilities”Exact equivalentThe Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/3004) set minimum standards for sanitary conveniences (regulation 20), washing facilities (regulation 21), drinking water (regulation 22), changing and storage facilities (regulations 23-24), rest and eating facilities (regulation 25), and temperature and lighting. Regulation 2 defines the workplaces covered.
Irish HSA
“welfare facilities”Close equivalentThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (Part 2, Chapter 1 and Schedule 1) set minimum welfare standards derived from the EU Workplace Directive, including sanitary facilities, rest rooms, first aid rooms and changing facilities. Minimum numbers of toilets and washing facilities are prescribed.
US OSHA
“sanitation”Close equivalentOSHA 29 CFR 1910.141 sets sanitation requirements for general industry including toilet facilities, washing facilities, drinking water, food handling and waste disposal. Construction sanitation requirements are in 29 CFR 1926.51. The requirements are performance-based rather than prescribing exact numbers of facilities per employee.
Practitioner note: A statutory requirement, not a question of comfort. Inadequate welfare is enforceable in its own right.