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should be noted that if the number of people does not regularly exceed five (males and females
combined) or each of the regular employees normally works on the premises for two hours or less
daily, one water closet is sufficient. Similarly only one wash hand basin needs to be provided.
Further the Regulation (9 (i) & (ii) ) specify that where the total number of females employed and
for whose use sanitary accommodation is provided exceeds ten, then suitable means for the disposal
of sanitary dressings shall be provided and suitably maintained.
With this regulation it would seem that a definite advance has been made towards recognition
of personal hygiene and it seems surprising that no parallel regulation had been added to the
similar factory legislation which however is more specific with regard to the entrance to such
sanitary accommodation in that the different sexes should approach their accommodation separately.
Washing Facilities. Apart from the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960 S.I. 1960 No. 1601
(10) and a few factories where specific types of work are carried on which are covered by Safety,
Health and Welfare Regulations (11), the Washing Facilities, Regulations, 1964 S.I. 1964 No. 965
is the first legislation which has applied generally to all classes of premises covered by an Act
specifying scales of washing facilities and requiring one wash hand basin (or unit of washing
fountain) per 15 persons in the first instance and then continues through a scale. The Act (12)
goes further and requires not only a supply of clean hot and cold. or warm water but also soap and
towe is or other suitable means of cleaning and drying.
Section 11 requires an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water to be made available and
as this is usually provided within the sanitary accommodation this section can most usefully be
discussed here.
Referring to the previous paragraphs it will be seen that all the facilities are made available
for normal bodily functions and attendant personal hygiene whether they be used or not, but it is
felt that the only satisfactory drinking water supply in sanitary accommodation is by a drinking
fountain and not by the almost universal means of a tap over a wash hand basin, sometimes so
placed that it is impossible to fill a normal size glass. It is usually agreed that the most satisfactory
drinking water supply both practically and aesthetically is by means of a separate water
cooler unit away from the sanitary accommodation.
It should be noted that wholesome supply does not necessarily imply mains water, or even
runni ng water.
2. First Aid. Section 24 of the Act states that there shall be readily accessible a first aid box
or cupboard with a range of contents specified according to the number of employees. This can
be found in Statutory Instrument 1964 No. 970 (13) and it should be noted that the dressings
including adhesive dressings are all of the separate and sterilised type. It would seem probable
that previously first aid boxes contained aspirin, cough medicine and similar medicaments rather
that true first aid materials.
If the employees number over 150 then a person trained in first aid should be in charge of one
of the First Aid boxes required by' the Act at all times during normal working hours and to be
covered during meal times, holidays and sickness; this would seem to require at least two persons
and preferably three. When there are less than 150 persons a responsible person should be in
charge and not as sometimes previously the office junior. First Aid rooms, where provided, should
comply with certain minimum facilities and subject to Local Authority approval exempt occupiers
from the statutory provision of first aid boxes.
3. Clothing Accommodation. Section 12 states that there shall be facilities to hang clothing
not worn by employees when working and where reasonable and practical means for drying clothing
must be supplied (14). Thus messengers, porters and persons working outside in inclement weather
should not be in the position of having to put on wet outer clothing.
PART III
Safety
1. Floors, passages and stairs. Must be of sound construction and properly maintained, neither
should there be any obstructions so that free movement is allowed as far as possible, the Act
specifically mentions substances likely to cause persons to slip should be avoided.
There must be provided handrails for staircases and where there are open sides balusters or
other means to prevent people falling from the stairs.
2. Machinery. Every dangerous part of any machine shall be securely guarded to make the machine
safe for every person working on the premises and if no fixed guard can be fitted a device must
be fitted so that the operator is prevented from coming into contact with that part. Added to this
there must be adequate supervision and training for operators of "dangerous" (15) machines.
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