The Compliance code for Workplace facilities and the working environment focuses on ensuring that employers provide safe and suitable facilities for their employees. This includes areas such as toilets, rest areas, drinking water, and temperature control. The code emphasizes the importance of maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and accessibility in these facilities. It also addresses the need for proper lighting, ventilation, and noise control in the working environment. Overall, the code aims to create a comfortable and healthy workplace for employees, promoting their well-being and productivity. Notably the guide provides requirements relating to “All Gendered” toilets. In summary, you will find guidance on each of the following topics:
- Toilets and hand washing
- Drinking water
- Dining facilities
- Personal storage
- Changing rooms
- Shower facilities
- Outdoor work
- Mobile, temporary, and remote work
- Employer-provided accommodation
- Entry and exit
- Emergency exits and access
- Housekeeping
- Workspace
- Noise
- Heat and cold
- Ventilation, air quality and air conditioning
- Lighting
- Seating
- Flooring
- First Aid
Here are a few of the statements that I found interesting while reading through the Code, however note for a full understanding of each of these points, the Code needs to be read in full:
- In workplaces where the total number of people who usually work there is over 10 people, provision of at least one all genders toilet in every workplace for every 50 employees, so far as is reasonably practicable is documented as a minimum need. All-genders toilets are in addition to the need to provide an accessible toilet.
- Consultation with employees may identify the need for squat toilets to be provided. Squat toilets may be provided to cater to employees from culturally diverse backgrounds, where it is reasonably practicable to do so
- Accessible toilets need to be provided. An accessible toilet is a toilet which is fully accessible by persons of all genders with a disability, including for wheelchair use, and contains a sanitary disposal unit.
- In workplaces where the total number of people who usually work there is 10 or fewer, one all genders toilet (sometimes called ‘unisex’) may be provided for employees instead of separate male and female toilets. If only one toilet is provided, this needs to be a fully accessible toilet.
- Consider employees additional access or personal needs or other cultural or gender-related needs. Examples can include:
- lactation facilities with a private, comfortable space to breastfeed or express breastmilk and a refrigerator or other means for safely storing breastmilk at the right temperature, or
- prayer or religious rooms.
- Consider employees’ psychological health. The inability to access a safe and secure toilet, shower, changing facility or other required facilities identified in consultation may also constitute a psychosocial hazard.
- The cleaning schedule needs to account for the hygienic maintenance of facilities in high-use areas, like dining areas, toilets, urinals, hand washing facilities and showers
- For fixed workplaces, an employer needs to provide, so far as reasonably practicable, clean drinking water, access to toilets, hand washing facilities and a clean place to eat in the workplace.
- Employers need to assess the basic facilities for mobile, temporary or remote workplaces and give employees information about where and how to access those facilities.
- Food warming facilities, such as a microwave oven, need to be provided.
- Vermin and dust-proof storage needs to be provided for all food and utensils. This needs to include a refrigerator or cooler big enough to store perishable foods for all employees using the facilities.
- Employers need to ensure that there is at least 800mm of clear space for employees to move and work between plant, equipment, structures and materials.
- For inactive, sedentary or desk-bound work, the workplace should be kept at between 20°C and 24°C, depending on the time of the year and clothing worn.
Here is a link to the guide https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/compliance-code-workplace-facilities-and-working-environment
