FD11 - Welfare Facilities

Purpose

To provide guidance on the design of welfare facilities in Aquatic facilities.

Description

An owner or operator of an aquatic facility must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision of adequate facilities for workers and visitors, including toilets, drinking water, washing and eating facilities. These facilities must be in good working order, clean, safe and accessible.

Location and Layout of Amenities

Consideration should be given to the most appropriate location of certain amenities when designing facilities and the effect this will have on staff supervision. Operators should also consider the following when determining staff supervision procedures.

1. Reception should be located in such a position, in relation to the pool area/s, to allow for all, or as much as possible, of the pool area to be directly visible.
2. Saunas and Steam Rooms should be located in such a position to allow staff easy access for periodic checks for safety in these areas.
3. Ideally, First Aid Rooms should be located in a position no further than 80m from any location within the facility, and should provide easy access to emergency services and/or disabled patients.

Access to Facilities

Workers or visitors, including those who have particular needs or disabilities, must have access to the facilities. Facilities may not need to be provided if they are already available close to the workplace, are suitable for workers to use and the workers have appropriate opportunities to use them. This would mean that:

• workers or visitors are provided with breaks to use facilities
• the facilities are within a reasonable distance from the work area
• night shift workers have similar access as those working in the day
• the means of access is safe at all times

Drinking Water

An adequate supply of clean drinking water must be provided free of charge for workers at all times. The supply of the drinking water should be:

• positioned where it can be easily accessed by workers
• close to where hot or strenuous work is being undertaken to reduce the likelihood of dehydration or heat stress
• separate from toilet or washing facilities to avoid contamination of the drinking water

The temperature of the drinking water should be at or below 24 degrees Celsius. This may be achieved by:

• refrigerating the water or providing non-contaminated ice
• shading water pipes and storage containers from the sun

Water should be supplied in a hygienic manner, so that workers do not drink directly from a shared container. This may involve:

• a drinking fountain, where the water is delivered in an upward jet
• a supply of disposable or washable drinking containers

Water supplied for certain industrial processes or for fire protection may not be suitable for drinking. These water supply points should be marked with signs warning that the water is unfit for drinking.

Toilets

Access to clean toilets must be provided for all workers while they are at work. Where reasonably practicable, toilet facilities should be provided for workers, rather than relying on access to external public toilets.

Number of Toilets

For workplaces within buildings, the National Construction Code of Australia sets out the ratio of toilets to the number of workers, and the specifications for toilets. Generally, separate toilets should be provided in workplaces where there are both male and female workers. However, one unisex toilet may be provided in workplaces with both male and female workers where:

• the total number of people who normally work at the workplace is 10 or less
• there are two or less workers of one gender

A unisex toilet should include one closet pan, one washbasin and means for disposing of sanitary items.

For all other workplaces, separate toilets should be provided in the following ratios:

These ratios are the minimum standard that should be provided. However, in some workplaces, the scheduling of workers’ breaks will affect the number of toilets required. There should be enough toilets available for the number of workers who may need to use them at the same time.

Design of Toilets

Toilets should be:

• fitted with a hinged seat and lid
• provided with adequate lighting and ventilation
• clearly signed
• fitted with a hinged door capable of locking from the inside on each cubicle
• designed to allow emergency access
• positioned to ensure privacy for users
• separated from any other room by an airlock, a sound-proof wall and a separate entrance that is clearly marked.

Toilets should be supplied with:

• an adequate supply of toilet paper for each toilet
• hand washing facilities
• rubbish bins
• for female workers, hygienic means to dispose of sanitary items.

Access to Toilets

Toilets must be accessible, preferably located inside a building or as close as possible to the workplace. In multi-storey buildings, toilets should be located on at least every second floor.

Hand Washing

Hand washing facilities must be provided to enable workers to maintain good standards of personal hygiene. Workers may need to wash their hands at different times (for example, after visiting the toilet, before and after eating meals, after handling chemicals or handling greasy machinery).

Number of Hand Washing Basins

In most cases, for both males and females, hand washing basins should be provided in at least the ratio of one wash basin for every 30 males and one for every 30 female workers, or part thereof.

The number of hand washing basins may need to be increased depending on the nature of the work carried out at the workplace. For example, where the work involves exposure to infectious substances or other contaminants, separate hand washing basins should be provided in addition to those provided with toilets.

Design of Hand Washing Facilities

Hand washing facilities should:

• be accessible at all times to work areas, eating areas and the toilets
• be separate from troughs or sinks used in connection with the work process
• contain both hot and cold water taps or temperature mixers
• be protected from the weather
• be supplied with non-irritating soap (preferably from a soap dispenser)
• contain hygienic hand drying facilities, for example automatic air dryers or paper towels

Where a business engages in activities such as food preparation or health care, there are also duties under health legislation in relation to hand washing facilities.

Dining Facilities

Workers should be provided with access to hygienic dining facilities for eating their meals and for preparing and storing food. Depending on the type of workplace, a range of facilities may be appropriate, which could include a shared facility such as a canteen or cafeteria, a dedicated meals area or allowing time for mobile workers to access meal facilities.

A separate dining room should be provided if:

• 10 or more workers usually eat at the workplace at the same time
• there is a risk of substances or processes contaminating foo

Facilities for Large Static Workplaces

A dedicated dining room should be provided that is protected from the weather and is separated from work processes, toilet facilities and any hazards (including noise, heat and atmospheric contaminants). It should be supplied with:

• adequate numbers of tables and seats to accommodate each worker likely to use the dining room at one time
• a sink with hot and cold water, washing utensils and detergent
• an appliance for boiling water
• crockery and cutlery
• food warming appliances, such as a microwave oven
• clean storage, including a refrigerator for storing perishable food
• vermin-proof rubbish bins, which should be emptied at least daily

Dining rooms should have 1 m² of clear space for each person likely to use the dining room at any one time. The clear space is calculated free of any furniture, fittings or obstructions such as pillars. This means that the size of a dining room for 10 workers should be 10 m² plus additional space for dining furniture, appliances and fittings such as sinks.

Facilities for Small Static Workplaces

For some small workplaces, an area within the workplace for making tea and coffee and preparing and storing food might be all that is needed. The facility should be protected from the weather, be free of tools and work materials and be separated from toilet facilities and any hazards (including noise, heat and atmospheric contaminants). It should be supplied with:

• seating
• a sink with hot and cold water, washing utensils and detergent
• an appliance for boiling water
• clean storage, including a refrigerator for storing perishable food
• vermin-proof rubbish bins, which should be emptied at least daily

Personal Storage

Accessible and secure storage should be provided at the workplace for personal items belonging to workers (for example, handbags, jewellery, medication or hygiene supplies). This storage should be separate from that provided for personal protective clothing and equipment in cases where contamination is possible.

Where any work involves the use of tools provided by a worker, provision should be made for secure and weatherproof storage of those tools during non-working hours.

Change Rooms

If workers have to change in and out of clothing due to the nature of their work, access to private changing areas with secure storage for personal belongings should be provided. This includes workers who need to:

• wear personal protective clothing or uniforms while they are working
• leave their work clothing at the workplace

If male and female workers need to change at the same time, separate male and female changing rooms should be provided. The changing room should allow a clear space of at least 0.5 m² for each worker.

The temperature in the changing room should be maintained so that it is comfortable for workers when changing. Additional heating or cooling may be needed.

Change rooms should be conveniently located and equipped with:

• seating to enable the numbers of workers changing at one time to sit when dressing or undressing
• mirrors, either within the changing room or directly outside it
• an adequate number of hooks and/or shelves

Where change rooms are provided, it may be reasonably practicable to provide lockers for storing clothing and personal belongings. Lockers should be:

• well ventilated, accessible and secure
• a sufficient size to accommodate clothing and personal belongings

There should also be a clear space of at least 1800 mm between rows of lockers facing each other and at least 900 mm between lockers and a seat or wall.

Adult Accessible Change Room

In addition to male, female and unisex accessible toilets and change facilities, consideration should be given to the installation of some private, accessible adult change rooms. These will support use by adults with access challenges who may need assistance with changing and accessing a swimming pool. Key elements to consider include:

1. Pool deck location to support ease of access, via a tracking hoist in the change room to or from the pool
2. Accessible toilet
3. Accessible shower
4. Accessible adult change table
5. Accessible hand basin and dryer

Shower Facilities

Certain jobs may involve dirty, hot or hazardous work and may require the provision of showering facilities. For example, jobs including mining, fire fighting, work in abattoirs, foundry work, welding, and police search and rescue.

At least one shower cubicle for every 10 workers who may need to shower should be provided. Usually separate facilities should be provided for male and female workers. However, in small or temporary workplaces where privacy can be assured, it may be acceptable to provide one unisex shower.

Showers should have:

• a floor area of not less than 1.8 m²
• a slip-resistant surface that is capable of being sanitised
• partitions between each shower that are at least 1650 mm high and no more than 300 mm above the floor
• an adjacent dressing area for each shower containing a seat and hooks
• a lockable door enclosing the shower and dressing cubicle

Each shower should be supplied with clean hot and cold water and individual non-irritating soap or another cleaning product. If grime or other by-products of the work process cannot be removed just by washing, individual nail or scrubbing brushes should be provided. Also provide drying facilities such as towels if the work the workers carry out means they need to shower before leaving the workplace.

References

• AS 1428.1 – 2009 Design for access and mobility - General Requirements for Access - New Building Work
• AS 1428.2 – 1992 Design for access and mobility - Enhanced and Additional Requirements - Buildings and Facilities
• AS/NZS 4586 – 2004 Slip Resistance Classification of New Pedestrian Surface Materials
• AS 1680 - 2009 Interior Lighting - Safe Movement
• Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010