Provide the right workplace facilities

You must protect the safety and health of everyone in your workplace, including people with disabilities, and provide welfare facilities for your employees.

Basic things you need to consider are outlined below.

Welfare facilities

For your employees' well-being you need to provide:

• toilets and hand basins, with soap and towels or a hand-dryer;
• drinking water;
• a place to store clothing (and somewhere to change if special clothing is worn for work);
• somewhere to rest and eat meals.

Health issues

To have a healthy working environment, make sure there is:

• good ventilation – a supply of fresh, clean air drawn from outside or a ventilation system;
• a reasonable working temperature (usually at least 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work, unless other laws require lower temperatures);
• lighting suitable for the work being carried out;
• enough room space and suitable workstations and seating;
• a clean workplace with appropriate waste containers.   

Safety issues

To keep your workplace safe you must:

• properly maintain your premises and work equipment;
• keep floors and traffic routes free from obstruction;
• have windows that can be opened and also cleaned safely;
• make sure that any transparent (eg glass) doors or walls are protected or made of safety material.

You can find more detailed information in The health and safety toolbox: How to control risks at work.