Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

These came into force on 1st January 1996 and the main areas for GMB Safety Representatives are:

Regulation 5 - VENTILATION: Enclosed workplaces should be sufficiently well ventilated so that stale air, or hot and humid air, is replaced at a reasonable rate. The air should also be free of impurities likely to cause offence or ill health: workers should not be subject to uncomfortable draughts.

Regulation 7 - TEMPERATURE: Should be reasonable and as comfortable as possible: this is assumed to be at least 16°C sitting and 13°C if work involves physical effort: there is no maximum temperature but measures need to be taken to keep it reasonably comfortable. Thermometers should be available at a convenient distance throughout the workplace.

Regulation 8 - LIGHTING: Should be suitable and sufficient and where reasonably practicable by natural light; this also covers the provision of emergency lighting where there is danger if other lights fail.

Regulation 9 - CLEANLINESS: There should be regular cleaning carried out, the frequency dependent upon the nature of the business and done in a manner that does not expose anyone to a health and safety risk.

Regulation 10 - ROOM DIMENSIONS AND SPACE: Everyone is entitled to sufficient floor area height and unoccupied space. The room, when empty, should provide a minimum of 11 cubic metres per person with a maximum height of 3 metres taken into account. This figure may be insufficient if a lot of space is taken up by furniture and equipment.

Regulation 11 - WORKSTATIONS AND SEATING: Workstations should be arranged so as to be safe and where possible protected from adverse weather: when a job can be done sitting down, a suitable seat should be provided.

Regulation 20 & 21 - SANITARY CONVENIENCES & WASHING FACILITIES: Both facilities should be suitable and sufficient with one of each up to 5 people, two of each up to 25 people and an extra one of each for every 25 people (or part thereof).

Regulation 22 - DRINKING WATER: This should be wholesome and readily accessible, unless it is a jet form, there should be a supply of suitable drinking vessels.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893