Legal Requirements For Toilets In Workplace

When you’re running a business, it’s important to keep on top of your legal requirements when it comes to employee welfare. Your washrooms are an important part of this and if you’re not providing the correct facilities for your staff, you could be breaking health and safety regulations.

Toilet Facilities at Work - The Regulations

Let’s take a look at the legal aspects of washroom facilities. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Regulation 20, Sanitary Convenience, states that;

1. Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences shall be provided at readily accessible places.
2. Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), sanitary conveniences shall not be suitable unless -
   1. the rooms containing them are adequately ventilated and lit;
   2. they and the rooms containing them are kept in a clean and orderly condition; and
   3. separate rooms containing conveniences are provided for men and women except where and so far as each convenience is in a separate room the door of which is capable of being secured from inside.

So, what does this mean for my business?

• Your toilets must be located in convenient areas for staff to reach
• Toilets must supply clean hot, cold or warm water
• Toilets should be close to any changing rooms
• You must include soap, soap dispensers or other means of cleaning
• There must be towels, hand dryers or other means of drying hands available
• All washrooms should be well ventilated with sufficient lighting
• Washrooms must be kept clean and tidy
• Separate facilities for men and women should be provided if possible, if not then a single room with a toilet and a locked door

How many toilets/basins do I need in my office?

There is an approved code of practice in place that states the minimum number of toilets and washbasins required based on the number of people in your office. This is broken down into mixed-use (or women only) toilets and men only toilets.

Mixed (women only) toilets

Toilets used by men only

At QBIC Washrooms, we offer a wide range of quality commercial washroom products for your office space. Whether you’re looking for efficient hand dryers from brands such as Dyson and AirForce, or you’re looking to install hygienic soap dispensers, we have everything you need to get your washrooms up to code.

Contact a member of the QBIC Washrooms team today for more information. We offer bulk discounts and next day delivery available when you place an order before 2 pm.