toilets, health & safety

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C

cubzworld

  • #1
    Can someone point me in the right direction about provisions required when employing staff. We work in a timber office at the end of the garden & looking to employ someone next year.

    I hope this doesn't sound too bad but we are considering putting up a shed with a porta loo next to the office. Is this good enough or would we be breaking some human rights ruling somewhere?

    Regards

    Tracy
     
    P

    Pebble Communications

  • #3
    I'm not sure you'd better check it out with the HSE and possibly your local environmental health. On the one hand, yes you see builders and roadworkers having to use these so they must be legal in certain circumstances. On the other hand, it wouldn't exactly be possible to provide them with plumbed in facilities, so these could be exclusions to usual requirements.
    In any case, even if ok legally, I think you would have to provide a handbasin for handwashing, which would need to be plumbed in, so why not plumb in a toilet as well? Also, it may well have an effect on your ability to recruit as I know that I wouldn't expect an office job to include using a portaloo in a shed (and I've worked on farms and things where there were no facilities at all, but this is different). Also, it would need emptying and cleaning daily and are you happy to do that?
    There are toilets that don't necessarily need the full plumbing see http://www.saniflo.co.uk/Saniflo_macerators_waste_water_pumps.asp?name=flo.
    Or, as it's only one person, can't you bear the thought of them nipping into your house to use the loo? Probably the easiest solution.
     
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    Kent Accountant

    Kent Accountant

    Free Member
    May 30, 2006
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  • #4
    I have to agree with Fiona. Whatever the regulations may be, you won't find many people willing to take on a job that comes with the use of a portaloo. It does seem more practical to use the domestic facilities and you won't have to waste money on buying the shed :)
     
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    C

    cubzworld

  • #6
    We took on someone this year & let them use the house facilities but the situation did not work. Their embarassment into asking to use the toilet, the intrusion of work/strangers into our home, what to do when we are out. etc. etc.

    God why do they have to write regulations in such difficult language. I can't see where it says what type of loo should be provided but I can appreciate this is not the ideal solution in terms of what an employee might expect & emptying it etc.

    We were only planning to do this for a year before hopefully moving into serviced offices which is why we don't want the expensive of plumbing.

    As suggested I need to get some HSE advice
    Many thanks
     
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    J

    Jayne

  • #9
    Buy a small second hand caravan with a toilet in, you can hook it up to the electrics, you will still have to empty the loo and clean it, but it's painless and easy. Better than a shed and just as cheap. Plus you can sell it when you get an office.

    Jayne
     
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    C

    cubzworld

  • #12
    Matt - thanks for that HSE document - that's explains the regulations clearly.

    I also thought the caravan was an inspired idea - just a shame I can't fit one through the single gate opening in our garden.

    I think we are going to have to completely re-think our expansion plans. Thanks for all your help.
    Tracy
     
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