TOOLBOX TALK Delivered by:

Housekeeping: A safe place of

work
Reason Why:
You need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of workplace dangers and provide a
safe working environment.

You must provide a safe and healthy environment for all your workers and take their welfare
needs into account. However, this doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.

This applies to a very wide range of workplaces – not only factories, shops and offices but also
schools, hospitals, hotels and places of entertainment etc.

Detail
Workplace means any premises or part of a premises which are made available to any person as
a place of work. It does not cover domestic premises.

The term workplace also includes the common parts of shared buildings, private roads and paths
on industrial estates and business parks.

You must consider, for example, lighting, ventilation, temperature, toilets and washing facilities.

You must also consider the needs of people with disabilities who may have specific needs, for
example adapted toilet and washing facilities, wide doorways and gangways.

Key points to remember:

You must:
 make sure your buildings are in good repair
 maintain the workplace and any equipment so that it is safe and works efficiently
 put right any dangerous defects immediately, or take steps to protect anyone at risk
 take precautions to prevent people or materials falling from open edges, eg fencing or
guard rails
 fence or cover floor openings, eg vehicle examination pits, when not in use
 have enough space for safe movement and access
 provide safety glass, if necessary
 make sure floors, corridors and stairs etc are free of obstructions, eg trailing cables
 provide good drainage in wet processes
 make sure any windows capable of being opened can be opened, closed or adjusted
safely
 make sure all windows and skylights are designed and constructed so that they may be
cleaned safely (you may also need to fit anchor points if window cleaners have to use
harnesses)
 minimise risks caused by snow and ice on outdoor routes, eg use salt or sand and sweep
them

Lighting
You must provide:

 good light – use natural light where possible but try to avoid glare
 a good level of local lighting at workstations where necessary
 suitable forms of emergency lighting
  well-lit stairs and corridors
 well-lit outside areas – for pedestrians and to help with work activities such as
loading/unloading at night

Moving around the premises

You must have:

 safe passage for pedestrians and vehicles – separate routes may be necessary
 level, even floors and surfaces without holes or broken boards
 hand-rails on stairs and ramps where necessary
 safely constructed doors and gates
 floors and surfaces which are not slippery

Cleanliness
You must:

 provide clean floors and stairs, with effective drainage where necessary
 provide clean premises, furniture and fittings
 provide containers for waste materials
 remove dirt, refuse and trade waste regularly
 clear up spillages promptly
 keep internal walls or ceilings clean

Hygiene and welfare

You must provide:

 clean toilets and hand basins, with running hot and cold or warm water, soap and towels
or another suitable means of drying
 drinking water
 somewhere to rest and eat meals, including facilities for eating food which would
otherwise become contaminated
 showers for dirty work or emergencies
 drying facilities for wet work clothes, if practical and necessary
 accommodation or hanging space for personal clothing not worn at work (and
somewhere to change if special clothing is worn for work)
 rest facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers

In some circumstances your risk assessment will highlight the need to provide additional specific
controls, for example:
 skin cleansers, with nail brushes
 barrier cream and skin-conditioning cream where necessary
 certain facilities for workers working away from base, eg chemical toilets in some
circumstances

Comfortable conditions
You must provide:

 a reasonable working temperature within workplaces inside buildings (usually at least 16

°C, or 13 °C for strenuous work, unless it is impractical to do so, eg in the food industry)
 local heating or cooling where a comfortable temperature cannot be maintained
throughout each workroom (eg hot and cold processes)
  good ventilation – a sufficient supply of fresh, clean air drawn from outside or a
ventilation system
 heating systems which do not give off dangerous or offensive levels of fume into the
workplace
 enough workspace, including suitable workstations and seating

Working outdoors

For work outdoors you should consider things such as the weather, temperature (both hot and
cold) and sun exposure.

Confirmation:
1. What is workplace?
2. Why it is important to provide safe place of work?
Location: Date:

For further on site assistance contact THSP on 03456 122 144 and ask to speak to an account
executive who can arrange for one of our qualified consultants to visit your workplace.