Staying Safe On Construction Sites | Our Hygiene Facilities

23 Dec Staying Safe On Construction Sites | Our Hygiene Facilities

With the continuously-changing guidance for employers, employees, and the self-employed on how to stay safe whilst working during the Coronavirus outbreak, it is important to keep up to date. There is specific advice for those who work on construction sites and other outdoor facilities/events. 

Putting Covid-19 aside, many of the hygiene rules and legislations for workers on construction sites have stayed the same. It is important to ensure that site workers have easy access to hand washing and sanitising stations across the site, as well as enhanced cleaning procedures. 

One of the main aspects of staying safe on site is keeping hygiene levels high. We recommend ensuring that there are either handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser stations available at all entry and exit points to the site. Our modern portable toilet units come with individual sinks with running hot water and cubicle layouts, making them ideal for maintaining safe distancing and hygiene on site. It is vital that any communal spaces such as our Eco Cabins also have hand sanitiser or access to hot running water to keep workers safe.

What are your legal obligations as an employer? 

Failure to follow the guidance set out by the HSE on welfare facilities on construction sites can result in warnings, fines, and even projects having to be suspended. As an employer, you must ensure that works have access to:

1. Handwashing facilities – A sink needs to be next to the toilets and large enough for worlds to be able to wash up to the elbows with both hot and cold water. There also needs to be soap and a way for workers to dry their hands, either air dryers or paper towels. 
2. Drinking water – Workers need to have a sufficient and continuous supply of clean drinking water available at all times and have access to clean cups. 
3. Rest areas – It is important to make sure that workers have a safe, clean and quiet rest area to avoid getting overtired. Rest areas need to have tables and seating for workers to relax and unwind. 
4. Showers – Should be provided if the work is particularly dirty or if decontamination is needed. As with the toilet provisions, separate male and female should be provided if possible.

Hygiene on a construction site 

When working on a long-term construction project, hygiene can often get out of control pretty quickly without the correct foreplanning. Therefore it is vital you carefully plan in advance how many welfare units are necessary on the site and their placements to avoid any hygiene disasters within the first phase of the project. Workers with special needs should also have access to the same type of facility as the able-bodied.

How many welfare facilities do you need on-site?

HSE recommends considering the following when deciding how many welfare provisions and what types to provide on a construction site. Carefully consider the nature of the work being carried out and what health risks are associated with it. If the work is particularly dirty or involves using hazardous substances such as sewage maintenance or dusty demolition projects then showers and washing facilities need to be provided. These need to be located close to the proximity of the work being carried. You also need to consider: 

• Duration
• Number of workers
• Cleaning and maintenance of the facilities
• Distance
• Access

Our EcoSmart welfare cabin

The EcoSmart units range in size from 12 to 28 feet. Each of the units comes with a modern canteen area where workers have easy access to a quiet place to prepare food and relax. Our EcoSmart cabins also have separate toilets for men and women and provide handwashing provisions with hot and cold water. 

Larger units have bigger canteens and may also include separate office space for up to 3 people. Each welfare unit is efficient, secure, and hygienic. 

Discover more about our wide range of welfare units here today.