Facilities for making hot drinks in offices...

pea-benn

Hi

Can anyone tell me what the legal requirements are for office facilities? I understand that your employer has to provide drinking water, toilets with hot water for hand washing but what about an area for making hot drinks/preparing food.

My company is looking to relocate to cheaper offices. The preferred choice has no kitchen or teapoint (so no drinking water). I've probably been spoilt in previous offices but not being able to make a cup of tea just seems unthinkable!! I also like to bring my lunch in and keep it in a fridge but I suspect this is asking too much!

dickydonkin

This brief guide should assist.

pea-benn

Thanks Dicky Donkin. That's really helpful. However, I noticed one of the final sentances reads:

This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.

My boss's response so far has been to point out that there is a coffee shop next door so I'm not holding out much hope!

saintjammyswine

If there are facilities nearby then the employer does not have to provide the facilities although it is good practice.

skintandscared_2

I just checked out the Health & Safety poster in our firm's kitchen. It says that the employer must provide "toilets, washing facilities and drinking water". But nothing about other kitchen facilities I'm afraid. I've never worked in a firm that DIDN'T have a kettle/microwave/fridge available, but I don't think it's a compulsory requirement.

westv

I think it's ridiculous that there are some offices that don't provide facilities for hot drinks (even at a small charge), cold storage for items and somewhere to wash up.

koloko

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dickydonkin

pea-benn wrote: »

Thanks Dicky Donkin. That's really helpful. However, I noticed one of the final sentances reads:

This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.

My boss's response so far has been to point out that there is a coffee shop next door so I'm not holding out much hope!

It's a typical HSE publication - about as clear as mud and open to all sorts of interpretation!

It's looking like the coffee shop then - although they must provide 'wholesome' drinking water to be 'readily accessible'.

The guidance - and in particular the ACOP's provide more detail. The ACop's do have special legal status and as such, if you do indeed stick to the codes, then your employer will likely be conforming to the regs.

More details to send you to sleep here!

saintjammyswine

They have to provide adequate toilet and washing facilities along with clean drinking water. They only have to provide facilities for hot food/drink if they are not available nearby. (my summary, not official guidance)

westv

koloko wrote: »

like smoking, you'll be suprised how much you don't miss it, when it's gone. the thought of not having it is much worse than the reality of not having it. good luck!

Are you an employer who has just got rid of staff tea making facilities?

pea-benn

saintjammyswine wrote: »

If there are facilities nearby then the employer does not have to provide the facilities although it is good practice.

The problem is that I'd have to pay for the facilities nearby!

I've always taken free tea and coffee for granted in the industry I work in. In fact, most places I've worked before have had free soft drinks. One place even had big fruitbowl for us to help ourselves.

We could probably get a kettle and a fridge in the actual office but then they'd be no where to wash the cups up (apart from the toilets).