Health and hygiene are vital concepts to business that may seem to be obvious. However, when it comes to the construction industry then how you protect your staff is even more important and it is vital that all of the appropriate rules and regulations are followed.
With a bit of careful planning and attention to detail, it is not difficult for a construction site manager to ensure that these rules are being followed and that the construction workers on their site are kept safe.
Providing the right facilities
Construction sites are often located in the middle of nowhere with a distinct lack of access to the necessary hygiene facilities. A company like SRP hire solutions can help you to ensure that you provide the appropriate facilities on your site. These should include access to toilet facilities with running hot water to allow your construction workers to take care of these basic hygiene needs.
A portable welfare unit is also a must on any busy construction site. Depending on the number of employees you have on-site at any one time you may need to consider whether it would be wise to hire multiple welfare units. The welfare unit is an essential component on any construction site for a number of reasons.
During the winter it provides a much-needed rest space out of the elements, allowing your construction workers to take their breaks somewhere that is warm and dry. This will ensure that they have a chance to warm up and rest before using heavy machinery that has the potential to cause accidents if they are too cold or tried to be safely operating them.
It is also a place where they can get a hot drink and heat up some food or simply just rest during their breaks. It is a good idea to consider a welfare unit that also includes a drying area as this is an ideal space for wet uniforms to dry whilst your construction workers take their breaks.
Accidents can occur on construction sites, and this is particularly the case when construction workers are cold, wet, tired, hungry, or a combination of these. Welfare units are more than just a practical hire choice. They are a necessity that have the potential to prevent accidents and reduce injury rates on any construction site.
What do the regulations say?
According to the HSE website, anyone who works on a construction site is required to have access not only to toilet facilities but washing facilities as well. They must also be provided with appropriate facilities for changing, eating, and resting.
It is the responsibility of the site management to ensure that these facilities are provided and that they are maintained in good working order. However, this is something that can often be difficult on an out-of-the-way construction site.
These situations are one reason it is really important to check what is actually included in any hire contract that is signed with a facilities hire company. A good company will always come out and deal with any issues that arise with your facilities in a way that causes minimum disruption on the site.
It is also recommended that the location of these facilities is carefully considered so that they do not require moving at a later point in the construction process. You also need to ensure that there are adequate facilities for all of the staff who will be using the site and that the availability of a power source for these facilities is considered. In some cases, it can be necessary to hire generators to provide the necessary power.
