Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Accommodation for clothing and facilities for 
changing
Adequate, suitable and secure space should be provided 
to store workers’ own clothing and special clothing. The 
facilities should allow for drying clothing. Changing facil-
ities should also be provided for workers who change 
into special work clothing.
Facilities to rest and to eat meals
Suitable and suffi cient, readily accessible, rest facilities 
should be provided. Arrangements should include suit-
able facilities to eat meals; adequate seats with back-
rests and tables; means of heating food (unless hot food 
is available nearby) and making hot drinks.
Canteens or restaurants
Canteens and restaurants may be used as rest facilities 
provided there is no obligation to purchase food.
Suitable rest facilities
Suitable rest facilities should be provided for pregnant 
women and nursing mothers. They should be near 

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394
sanitary facilities and where necessary, include the facil-
ity to lie down.
Non-smokers
Non-smokers should be protected from discomfort 
caused by tobacco smoke in rest areas and rest rooms.
17.32.5 References
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 
1992
ISBN 0-11-025804-5
Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare. Workplace 
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Approved 
Code of Practice and Guidance. L24, 1992 HSE Books
ISBN 0-7176-0413-6
Workplace health, safety and welfare A short guide, 
INDG244, 1997 HSE Books
ISBN 0-7176-1328-3
17.33 
Work at Height Regulations 2005
17.33.1 Introduction
These Regulations bring together all current requirements 
on work at height into one goal based set of Regulations. 
They implement the requirements of the 2nd Amending 
Directive (2001/45/EC) to the Use of Work Equipment 
Directive (89/955/EEC) which sets out requirements for 
work at height. The 2nd Amending Directive as become 
known as the Temporary Work at Height Directive.
The Regulations require a risk assessment for all 
work conducted at height and arrangements to be put 
in place for:
➤
eliminating or minimizing risks from working at height
➤
safe systems of work for organizing and performing 
work at height
➤
safe systems for selecting suitable work equipment 
to perform work at height
➤
safe systems for protecting people from the conse-
quences of work at height.