Having suitable construction facilities in place will ensure you meet basic regulations for employee welfare. It will also provide a pleasant environment for workers, enabling them to get on with their jobs efficiently and comfortably. A happy workforce will be more productive and less likely to leave for a competitor who offers them a better working environment so this is something that’s well worth getting right.
What Legal Requirements Are There?
The legal requirements for managing occupational health risks in construction are set by the Health and Safety Executive and detail the responsibilities that principal contractors have and the minimum facilities they must provide. This must include toilets, washing, changing, eating, and rest facilities as a minimum and they must be appropriate in number with respect to the number of workers on site.
Planning for Success
Ensuring you have the suitable provisions should be part of your initial planning to allow time to hire equipment and have it in place before any demolition or construction begins. Choosing to use the services of a hire specialist will ensure you meet the minimum requirements and have access to other desirable construction hire facilities. You may also benefit from site cabins, canteen and welfare units, including showers and warm toilet facilities, or secure storage. Combination cabins are available if you are tight for space or have limited numbers on site.
Providing a safe place for keeping on top of site administration, an office for site visitors, and a comfortable working environment for employees, whatever the weather or season, will help keep a project on schedule and workers happy. When you are not close to main power or simply to ensure failing main power supply will never be an issue, such companies also offer generators, lighting, and heating, to reduce the chance of interruption.
It’s essential to arrange facilities in a timely manner to ensure they are safely in place before construction work begins and installation won’t disrupt work in progress.
Things to Consider
Whether weeks, months or even years, your project length may help you decide whether mobile or static units will best suit your requirements. Long term hire of a static unit can provide additional facilities that will help provide a warm, clean, and dry place for workers if your project is ongoing or ensure that you are adequately prepared when winter comes. The number of workers on-site can help you decide whether to bring in static or mobile units to cope with demand. Access may dictate that you choose one or the other or have a combination, particularly on larger sites.
It may also be appropriate for site layout to have several smaller units in place of one larger or multiple combination units. More units can significantly reduce site traffic travelling to change into protective workwear, use a toilet, or take a break. When many individuals are on-site, it’s essential to have facilities in sufficient numbers if things are to run smoothly. Cramped spaces, lack of adequate catering provisions, or dry rest space to wash and change can quickly lead to tempers fraying, service disruption, or site accidents.
Having multiple units across the site may be more suitable on large sites. It can ensure individuals have space from each other to promote better working relationships and reduce the opportunity for hold-ups and delays as workers are distracted or waylaid while travelling to use facilities.
Final Thoughts
The size or length of your project may mean opting for static units rather than mobile units. Or you may have access or ground restrictions and will need to move facilities as work progresses, making mobile units more suitable. There are welfare and site facilities available for all construction projects, from a small toilet block for a single house build or multiple unit types for an entire estate build.
short url:
