4th May 2006, 02:11 PM
Welfare facilities will always be an issue because provision is constrained by the factors covered in the term 'reasonably practicable' - which in this debate might be appropriate.
In the case of a site visit, a bottle of cold water may suffice, along with a cup of tea on the way there or back. Provision of a portaloo is not really necessary, as long as there is a vehicle available to transport any personel to the nearest public facility. As Dr Parer says, hand-washing can be via a suitable gel.
For a couple of days evaluation a portaloo may well be required, and can be factored into the costings without being unreasonable. If you need to keep losing staff on extended lavvy trips in the site transport, then productivity falls and you may be depriving those remaining on site of the vehicle that is actually the site office and possibly identified in the RA as transport for emergency purposes. Provision of a decent cabin for a couple of days might well cost more than the actual job, and is therefore not 'reasonably practicable'. Provision of cold drinking water can be bottled water, provision of hot drinks can be via flasks made up in the morning, or through a visit to nearest caff (at employers expense of course). Hand washing facilities can be a bowl, water, soap and paper towels, or through a specialised gel.
For a couple of weeks the provision could be adequate portaloos (gender specific), cabin with fitted facilities such as heating, hot water for hand-washing, boiling water for drinks, potable cold water etc (there are specialised 'start-up' welfare cabins available for hire).
If the legislation and guidance is inadequate, then it is something that should be addressed within a contractor's H & S Policy, and therefore open to view by all employees (existing and prospective). In this way staff can complain if their facilities do not meet the standard identified in the Policy, without being concerned about what the law says or does not say. The project Risk Assessment should contain information regarding the welfare facilities that are to be provided.
Beamo
In the case of a site visit, a bottle of cold water may suffice, along with a cup of tea on the way there or back. Provision of a portaloo is not really necessary, as long as there is a vehicle available to transport any personel to the nearest public facility. As Dr Parer says, hand-washing can be via a suitable gel.
For a couple of days evaluation a portaloo may well be required, and can be factored into the costings without being unreasonable. If you need to keep losing staff on extended lavvy trips in the site transport, then productivity falls and you may be depriving those remaining on site of the vehicle that is actually the site office and possibly identified in the RA as transport for emergency purposes. Provision of a decent cabin for a couple of days might well cost more than the actual job, and is therefore not 'reasonably practicable'. Provision of cold drinking water can be bottled water, provision of hot drinks can be via flasks made up in the morning, or through a visit to nearest caff (at employers expense of course). Hand washing facilities can be a bowl, water, soap and paper towels, or through a specialised gel.
For a couple of weeks the provision could be adequate portaloos (gender specific), cabin with fitted facilities such as heating, hot water for hand-washing, boiling water for drinks, potable cold water etc (there are specialised 'start-up' welfare cabins available for hire).
If the legislation and guidance is inadequate, then it is something that should be addressed within a contractor's H & S Policy, and therefore open to view by all employees (existing and prospective). In this way staff can complain if their facilities do not meet the standard identified in the Policy, without being concerned about what the law says or does not say. The project Risk Assessment should contain information regarding the welfare facilities that are to be provided.
Beamo