No pot washing facilities!!

shezza2

At the place of my wife's employment they have a room where they can eat and drink but nowhere to wash the pots apart from the sink in the ladies toilet, is this safe or even legal regarding working practice. Also do the cold water taps have to have drinking water on them or not.

James_B.

Yes, safe, and legal. If she does not like the facilities at work then she can take the things home with her at the end of the day to wash them.

ohreally

The welfare regs relate to your concerns...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/22/made

Regulation 22 Drinking water
(1) An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water shall be provided for all
persons at work in the workplace.
(2) Every supply of drinking water required by paragraph (1) shall –
(a) be readily accessible at suitable places; and
(b) be conspicuously marked by an appropriate sign where necessary for
reasons of health and safety.
(3) Where a supply of drinking water is required by paragraph (1), there shall
also be provided a sufficient number of suitable cups or other drinking vessels
unless the supply of drinking water is in a jet from which persons can drink easily

Drinking water should normally be obtained directly from a suitable
public or private mains supply. If a cistern, tank or vessel is used as a supply,
it should be well covered, kept clean and tested and disinfected as
necessary. If refillable containers need to be used, they should be suitably
enclosed to prevent contamination and refilled at least once a day.
210 Drinking water taps should not be installed in places where
contamination is likely, for example in a workshop where lead is handled or
processed. As far as is reasonably practicable, they should also not be
installed in toilets.
211 Drinking cups or beakers should be provided unless the supply is
through a drinking fountain. In the case of non-disposable cups, a facility for
washing them should be provided nearby.
212 Bottled water/water dispensing systems may be provided as a supplementary
source of drinking water.

reg 25 deals with facilities for rest and eating meals...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/25/made

1) Suitable and sufficient rest facilities shall be provided at readily accessible places.

QuackQuackOops

shezza2 wrote: »

At the place of my wife's employment they have a room where they can eat and drink but nowhere to wash the pots apart from the sink in the ladies toilet, is this safe or even legal regarding working practice. Also do the cold water taps have to have drinking water on them or not.

Are you under the impression that Ladies piddle in the sinks when they are at work?
If not, then why would it not be perfectly "safe" to use the sink to wash a cup out in?

Savvy_Sue

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

Are you under the impression that Ladies piddle in the sinks when they are at work?
If not, then why would it not be perfectly "safe" to use the sink to wash a cup out in?

One of my colleagues is adamant that we must not wash cups in the loo, and I must admit that I like to wash my work mug properly at the end of the day, in the kitchen sink with a proper pot scourer and some washing up liquid.

However the pots in which I take my lunch to work get a quick rinse and then I bring them home again.

Mrs_Soup

You can get a kind of scourer sponge with a hollow handle that you pour washing up liquid into- these are quite handy for use at work. Would just need a plastic bag to keep it in.

MoneyMate

I certainly would not wash any Cups etc in any toilet, bacteria from hands and surrounding areas is not recommended .

the_donchichio

Are there any male employees, and if so are they required to use the same sink situated in the ladies toilets?

anyway, it does not seem professional to use the water supply situated in such a position and tbh it does not cost much to install/connect a small sink with hot/cold taps and one waste

James_B.

MoneyMate wrote: »

I certainly would not wash any Cups etc in any toilet, bacteria from hands and surrounding areas is not recommended .

No-one was suggesting washing anything in the toilet, they were suggesting washing it in the sink.

If they don't want to do so, they can take it home and wash it there.

MoneyMate

James_B. wrote: »

No-one was suggesting washing anything in the toilet, they were suggesting washing it in the sink.

If they don't want to do so, they can take it home and wash it there.

Sink in the Toilet . ( well washbasin ) :beer:

pmlindyloo

Has your wife and colleagues written formally to their employer asking for washing facilities to be provided in the 'rest room'.

Show them the quoted legislation for them to use.

In the meantime (ignoring the pots and pans - they can't be cooking a meal surely???)

Use a washing up bowl in the room where they eat and fill from the kettle.