Posted By Robert
Probably an unusual request!

My company will shortly have a sauna available for employees' use.
Help in identifying the health and safety implications would be appreciated!

Posted By Ken Taylor
If the question is about sauna cabins, I have also not found anything on the internet. The main hazards appear to be burns, heat stress, infection, personal attack and slipping on wet floors. The control measures tend to be: following the instructions and guidance in the standard notices supplied with the equipment (If you didn't get this why not pop along to a local leisure centre and copy theirs?); good hygiene and cleaning control; hazardous chemicals used for cleaning; supervision by visits; and emergency alarms - in addition to the usual hazards of buildings and any local site specific issues.
Incidentally, veruccae are a matter of contraversy in this area. If the environment does have swimming pool type activity involved (eg spa pools), I would also suggest visiting the swimming pool operators pages on: www.caromal.co.uk and consulting HSG 179 (HSE Books).

Posted By Stuart Nagle
Robert.

I would suggest that your company, apart from identifying the hazards in respect of provision of this facility, may also need to produce a 'policy' document detailing such Jems as;

1) dress code

2) men and women (mixed or seprate use !!)

3) Cleanliness/cleansing

4) Operation and maintenance of equipment (e.g temperature and water etc)

5) 'Lone' sauna use and raising alarms !!

6) Max numbers to use equipment at any one time

7) Hours of use/core work time !!