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Posted By Tyler
I have mislaid my copy of the h,s and welfare regs and so would like to ask the following:
I am aware that best practice is to have toilet facilities for both male and female that are seperate facilities with a lockable (from the inside)door. However, I work in a very small sattelite office (only me and two other guys)which used to be a flat/maisonette and we have just employed a female colleague. At present there is only one lavatory available for use.
Will we be compliant with the law if we asked her to use the same toilet facility as the gents presently use or will she be required to be situated in another office.
Yours in anticipation
Tyler
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Posted By Chris Turner
Tyler,
I think that this arrangement is ok, providing that the toilet can be locked from the inside. Providing that the number of persons within the premisis,stays below 5, then 1 sanitary convenience will be ok. However, it would be prudent to ensure that all the needs of the employees have been considered.
Hope this is of help.
Chris T
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Posted By Eric Burt
Tyler
Don't forget that as you will have a female employee using the premises you will need a sanitary disposal container. Also, you will need to have a pregnancy risk assessment if she is of child-bearing age.
Regards,
Eric
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Posted By Dave Wilson
AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!
Come on! The bottom line is that what you are doing is Fine and I do not see the H&S enforcement agencies chasing you and your 3 colleagues while you beaver away dangerously on your high risk computer system as it spews out CO2 into the atmosphere and destroys all know life in a scandanavian rain forest or whatever.
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Posted By Tyler
Dave (Wilson), I like your pragmatic stance on this issue. Refreshing to say the least.
Eric and Chris, I have done risk assessments on all you have mentioned (and yes the lav is lockable from the inside)and I have assessed the situation as acceptable.
Your comments confirm my original thoughts. However, I thought it prudent to check with my peers to ensure compliance with the Regs (having mislaid my copy).
Thanks for all your assistance.
Tyler
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Posted By John Webster
You and your fellow pee-ers may continue to use the same loo.
This thing about seperate toilets really only applies when you go into a seperate enclosed washroom, within which are a number of cubicles and/or urinals.
Self contained, one person at a time WC/washrooms which open via a lockable door onto a communally accessible open area, eg a corridor or workroom, do not need to be segregated.
All quite sensible and logical, but its amazing how many people insist there should be men and women only loos.
(I think it's one of those British sort of things. I know of men who will not use a public loo in Germany because invariably there is a formidable lady attendant inside the door.)
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Posted By Eric Burt
Tyler
Really don't worry too much about it.
As long as you have a safe cistern of work you'll find your colleagues will be flushed with pride and won't drive you round the bend!
Eric
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Posted By Jim Sweetman
In line with everone else, I would think that you're ok - when you stock it up, don't forget the air freshener!
They say worse things happen at sea! I've just finished a weekend on a 70ft ketch (a somewhat large yacht to all landlubbers!) with another 15 chaps and one lady. Toilet and washing facilities were two 'cupboards' containing a 'pump action'loo and a washbasin. There was no hint of segregation, but there was a lock on the door. Neither was there a two door seperation from the galley (food preparation facilities) or the accommodation. Result was a lot of hilarity regarding pumping 'product' away and a rather fragrant living area!
Before everyone jumps on me - HASAWA & other H&S leg does not apply to the master of a sea-going ship...and normal shipboard activities...!
Jim Sweetman
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Posted By Steve Sedgwick
I agree with Daves sentiments on this, lets discuss real problems, not bog standard questions that are explained in the Workplace regs.
Steve
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Posted By Tyler
Steve,
May I remind you that the question was as a result of me not being able to get my hands on a copy of the Regs for verification and I thought I would ask my peers for assistance. As was explained in the initial question.
This was accomplished satisfactorily and there was no need for your negative comment.
To add, may I remind you, that this is still an open forum and not every one who posts threads on it and indeed gets advice from it may be as obviously well informed as you are.
In short, yes some questions may appear obvious and simple to some people but there may be real reasons why the question was asked and accomplishing the facts and safe practice should be encouraged and not sniped at!
Tyler
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Posted By Steve Wood
after the "chartered or not" bun-fight it's not wonder people are getting defensive, but.... wasn't the "bog" standard was just another quip?
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Posted By Tyler
In that case please accept my apologies.
Tyler
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Posted By Graham Bullough
Here's a different angle to this thread which hopefully doesn't deviate too far from the original theme. Primary schools have separate loo facilities for men and women, although the vast majority of employees are women. Furthermore, the employees tend only to use the facilities during official breaks in teaching. Therefore, as the number of women's wc's are often insufficient to meet demand during breaks, it is the norm for the women to use any available facility and ignore any "men" signs on doors! Provided that the facilities have suitable privacy, have means for washing and drying and are kept clean, I see no problem with this pragmatic approach. Furthermore, I tend to suggest that the "men" signs simply be replaced by "w.c." signs to make life easier for everybody in future.
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