Posted By Ian stevenson My employer has just refubished a workplace (office)which using health & safety guidlines can accomodate 4 people, minimum 11 cubic meters each. They intend to install six people plus additional equipment as they see no percivable risk as the staff will be at fixed work stations.I could agree it does not appear cramped when no staff are on site but what is the point in haveing minimum requirements if they can be overridden so easily. I have noted another thread on a similar theme there should be some intresting answers. Ian Stevenson

Posted By Gary Levers Assuming a volume of 44m3 (4x 11m3) when empty, to then put 6 people in would reduce this to approx 7.3m3 per person. That is low! especially when you consider that is a floor space of less than 2.5m2 per person without even thinking about desks, chairs etc. Its not just a guideline either Ian. The ACOP states 11m3, which in turn dates way back to the Offices, Shops, Railways Premises Act.

Posted By David Edward Partington Ian, this is where you earn your wages. Tell your employer to behave themselves. This configeration of office space will be unhealthy, unpleasant and unproductive etc. Can I suggest that you refer them to the HS policy that you wrote and they signed. Clearly this does not meet the best practice that you would have written into the Policy. As for the law then you are in a hard place if you have to relie on the law to make your case. The simple arguement is that this is unacceptable. Behave.

Posted By Hilary Charlton Absolutely agree with the above. Complete your risk assessment, utilise the word of the Law and refer to it, then cover this with a memo stating where the problem is, that they are not in compliance if they situate 6 people in this area and so on. Ensure this is done before the employees take up residence and make sure that you keep a copy for your file. Should anyone subsequently complain you have full evidence that you have done what you were supposed to do which is advise the employer. Hilary

Posted By Ken Taylor David is right in that the actual Regulations require only sufficient floor area, height and unoccupied space. However, the Approved Code of Practice gives the dimensions to which we refer and are used by an enforcing authority in deciding whether, in their opinion, the Regulations have been met. This is not just good advice or guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. If the employer has failed to meet the ACOP for a workplace of this nature, it would be very interesting to see how they would be able to prove that they had met the duty imposed by the Regulations in some other way.