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Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare regulations
Introduction
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover a wide range
of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most workplaces (with the
exception of those workplaces involving construction work on construction sites,
those in or on a ship, or those below ground at a mine). They are amended by the
Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, the Health and Safety
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002, and the Work at Height
Regulations 2005.
This paper gives a brief outline of the requirements of the Workplace Regulations.
Requirements under these Regulations
Employers have a general duty under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work
Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and
welfare of their employees at work. People in control of non-domestic premises
have a duty (under section 4 of the Act) towards people who are not their
employees but use their premises. The Regulations expand on these duties and
are intended to protect the health and safety of everyone in the workplace, and
ensure that adequate welfare facilities are provided for people at work.
These Regulations aim to ensure that workplaces meet the health, safety and
welfare needs of all members of a workforce, including people with disabilities.
Several of the Regulations require things to be ‘suitable’. Regulation 2(3) makes it
clear that things should be suitable for anyone. This includes people with
disabilities. Where necessary, parts of the workplace, including in particular doors,
passageways, stairs, showers, washbasins, lavatories and workstations, should be
made accessible for disabled people.
Interpretation
‘Workplace’ - these Regulations apply to a very wide range of workplaces, not only
factories, shops and offices but also, for example, schools, hospitals, hotels and
places of entertainment. The term workplace also includes the common parts of
shared buildings, private roads and paths on industrial estates and business parks,
and temporary worksites (except workplaces involving construction work on
construction sites).
‘Work’ - means work as an employee or self-employed person.
‘Premises’ - means any place including an outdoor place.
Health and Safety
Executive
Workplace health,
safety and welfare
A short guide for managers
‘Domestic premises’ - means a private dwelling. These Regulations do not apply to
domestic premises, and exclude homeworkers. However, they do apply to hotels,
nursing homes and to parts of workplaces where ‘domestic’ staff are employed,
such as the kitchens of hostels.
‘Disabled person’ - has the meaning given by section 1 of the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995.
Health
The measures outlined in this section contribute to the general working
environment of people in the workplace.
Ventilation
Workplaces need to be adequately ventilated. Fresh, clean air should be drawn
from a source outside the workplace, uncontaminated by discharges from flues,
chimneys or other process outlets, and be circulated through the workrooms.
Ventilation should also remove and dilute warm, humid air and provide air
movement which gives a sense of freshness without causing a draught. If the
workplace contains process or heating equipment or other sources of dust, fumes
or vapours, more fresh air will be needed to provide adequate ventilation.
Windows or other openings may provide sufficient ventilation but, where necessary,
mechanical ventilation systems should be provided and regularly maintained.
Temperatures in indoor workplaces
Environmental factors (such as humidity and sources of heat in the workplace) combine
with personal factors (such as the clothing a worker is wearing and how physically
demanding their work is) to influence what is called someone’s ‘thermal comfort’.
Individual personal preference makes it difficult to specify a thermal environment
which satisfies everyone. For workplaces where the activity is mainly sedentary, for
example offices, the temperature should normally be at least 16 °C. If work involves
physical effort it should be at least 13 °C (unless other laws require lower
temperatures).
Work in hot or cold environments
The risk to the health of workers increases as conditions move further away from
those generally accepted as comfortable. Risk of heat stress arises, for example,
from working in high air temperatures, exposure to high thermal radiation or high
levels of humidity, such as those found in foundries, glass works and laundries.
Cold stress may arise, for example, from working in cold stores, food preparation
areas and in the open air during winter.
Assessment of the risk to workers’ health from working in either a hot or cold
environment needs to consider both personal and environmental factors. Personal
factors include body activity, the amount and type of clothing, and duration of
exposure. Environmental factors include ambient temperature and radiant heat; and
if the work is outside, sunlight, wind velocity and the presence of rain or snow.
Actions arising from your assessment may include:
n introducing engineering measures to control the thermal effects in a workplace
environment, for example heat effects, may involve insulating any plant which
acts as a radiant heat source, thereby improving air movement, increasing
ventilation rates and maintaining the appropriate level of humidity. The radiant
heat effects of the sun on indoor environments can be addressed either by
orientating the building so that it doesn’t suffer from the effects of solar loading,
or where this is not possible, by the use of blinds or shutters on windows.
Where workers are exposed to cold and it is not reasonably practicable to
avoid exposure you should consider, for example, using cab heaters in fork-lift
trucks in cold stores;
n restriction of exposure by, for example, re-organising tasks to build in rest periods
or other breaks from work. This will allow workers to rest in an area where the
environment is comfortable and, if necessary, to replace bodily fluids to combat
dehydration or cold. If work rates cause excessive sweating, workers may need
more frequent rest breaks and a facility for changing into dry clothing;
n medical pre-selection of employees to ensure that they are fit to work in these
environments;
n use of suitable personal protective clothing (which may need to be heat
resistant or insulating, depending on whether the risk is from heat or cold);
n acclimatisation of workers to the environment in which they work, particularly
for hot environments;
n training in the precautions to be taken; and
n supervision, to ensure that the precautions identified by the assessment are taken.
Lighting
Lighting should be sufficient to enable people to work and move about safely. If
necessary, local lighting should be provided at individual workstations and at places
of particular risk such as crossing points on traffic routes. Lighting and light fittings
should not create any hazard.
Automatic emergency lighting, powered by an independent source, should be
provided where sudden loss of light would create a risk.
Cleanliness and waste materials
Every workplace and the furniture, furnishings and fittings should be kept clean and
it should be possible to keep the surfaces of floors, walls and ceilings clean.
Cleaning and the removal of waste should be carried out as necessary by an
effective method. Waste should be stored in suitable receptacles.
Room dimensions and space
Workrooms should have enough free space to allow people to move about with
ease. The volume of the room when empty, divided by the number of people
normally working in it, should be at least 11 cubic metres. All or part of a room
over 3.0 m high should be counted as 3.0 m high. 11 cubic metres per person is a
minimum and may be insufficient depending on the layout, contents and the nature
of the work.
Workstations and seating
Workstations should be suitable for the people using them and for the work they
do. People should be able to leave workstations swiftly in an emergency. If work
can or must be done sitting, seats which are suitable for the people using them
and for the work they do should be provided. Seating should give adequate
support for the lower back, and footrests should be provided for workers who
cannot place their feet flat on the floor.
Safety
Maintenance
The workplace, and certain equipment, devices and systems should be maintained
in efficient working order (efficient for health, safety and welfare). Such maintenance
is required for mechanical ventilation systems; equipment and devices which would
cause a risk to health, safety or welfare if a fault occurred; and equipment and
devices intended to prevent or reduce hazard.
The condition of the buildings needs to be monitored to ensure that they have
appropriate stability and solidity for their use. This includes risks from the normal
running of the work process (eg vibration, floor loadings) and foreseeable risks (eg
fire in a cylinder store).
Floors and traffic routes
‘Traffic route’ means a route for pedestrian traffic, vehicles, or both, and includes
any stairs, fixed ladder, doorway, gateway, loading bay or ramp.
There should be sufficient traffic routes, of sufficient width and headroom, to allow
people and vehicles to circulate safely with ease.
Horizontal swinging barriers used as gates at car park or similar entrances should
be locked open or locked shut (preferably by padlock) so that they do not swing
open and constitute a risk to oncoming vehicles. This guidance also relates to
duties under the requirements of the Regulations covering doors and gates.
To allow people and vehicles to move safely, the best approach is to keep vehicles
and pedestrians apart by ensuring that they use entirely separate routes.
If people and vehicles have to share a traffic route, use kerbs, barriers or clear
markings to designate a safe walkway and, where pedestrians need to cross a
vehicle route, provide clearly marked crossing points with good visibility, bridges or
subways. Make sure the shared route is well lit.
It is often difficult for drivers to see behind their vehicle when they are reversing; as
far as possible, plan traffic routes so that drivers do not need to reverse. This can
be achieved by using one-way systems and drive-through loading areas.
Set appropriate speed limits, and make sure they, and any other traffic rules, are
obeyed. Provide route markings and signs so that drivers and pedestrians know
where to go and what rules apply to their route, so they are warned of any
potential hazards.
Loading bays should have at least one exit point from the lower level, or a refuge
should be provided to avoid people being struck or crushed by vehicles.
Where a load is tipped into a pit or similar place, and the vehicle is liable to fall into it,
barriers or portable wheel stops should be provided at the end of the traffic route.
Floors and traffic routes should be sound and strong enough for the loads placed
on them and the traffic expected to use them. The surfaces should not have holes
or be uneven or slippery, and should be kept free of obstructions and from any
article or substance which may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.
Criteria for defects such as subsidence, unevenness, pot holes, collection of
surface water, cracks and ruts should be determined and set, and maintenance
systems developed to undertake repair when these limits are exceeded.
Open sides of staircases should be fenced with an upper rail at 900 mm or higher,
and a lower rail. A handrail should be provided on at least one side of every
staircase, and on both sides if there is a particular risk. Additional handrails may be
required down the centre of wide staircases. Access between floors should not be
by ladders or steep stairs.
Falls into dangerous substances
The consequences of falling into dangerous substances are so serious that a high
standard of protection is required. Dangerous substances in tanks, pits or other
structures should be securely fenced or covered. Traffic routes associated with
them should also be securely fenced.
Duties to prevent falls from height in general are covered by the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 (see Further reading).
Transparent or translucent doors, gates or walls and windows
Windows, transparent or translucent surfaces in walls, partitions, doors and gates
should, where necessary for reasons of health and safety, be made of safety material
or be protected against breakage. If there is a danger of people coming into contact
with it, it should be marked or incorporate features to make it apparent.
Employers will need to consider whether there is a foreseeable risk of people
coming into contact with glazing and being hurt. If this is the case, the glazing will
need to meet the requirements of the Regulations.
Windows
Openable windows, skylights and ventilators should be capable of being opened,
closed or adjusted safely and, when open, should not pose any undue risk to anyone.
Windows and skylights should be designed so that they may be cleaned safely.
When considering if they can be cleaned safely, account may be taken of equipment
used in conjunction with the window or skylight or of devices fitted to the building.
Doors and gates
Doors and gates should be suitably constructed and fitted with safety devices if
necessary.
Doors and gates which swing both ways and conventionally hinged doors on main
traffic routes should have a transparent viewing panel.
Power-operated doors and gates should have safety features to prevent people
being struck or trapped and, where necessary, should have a readily identifiable
and accessible control switch or device so that they can be stopped quickly in an
emergency.
Upward-opening doors or gates need to be fitted with an effective device to
prevent them falling back. Provided that they are properly maintained,
counterbalance springs and similar counterbalance or ratchet devices to hold
them in the open position are acceptable. Powered vertical opening doors that
are powerful enough to lift an adult or child should be fitted with measures to
prevent this.
Escalators and moving walkways
Escalators and moving walkways should function safely, be equipped with any
necessary safety devices, and be fitted with one or more emergency stop controls
which are easily identifiable and readily accessible.
Welfare
Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities
Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and washing facilities should be
provided at readily accessible places. They and the rooms containing them should
be kept clean and be adequately ventilated and lit. Washing facilities should have
running hot and cold or warm water, soap and clean towels or other means of
cleaning or drying. If required by the type of work, showers should also be
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This page was created on: 10/05/2007
Last modified: 10/05/2007
