General Workplace Safety
Changing Facilities

Suitable changing areas must be provided where people have to change clothing for work, or where necessary to prevent their own clothing being contaminated by a hazardous substance.  There needs to be adequate seating, lighting and ventilation. Movement between clothes storage and changing areas should not be easy.

 

There needs to be adequate storage for clean and dirty clothes and personal protective equipment and there may also need to be showers or other washing facilities.

 

In most cases, coat-hooks and hangers provided within a normal office environment are adequate though consideration should be given to sighting of these so that people nearby are not subject to unpleasant smells and so that fire precautions are not compromised. On location there might be a particular vehicle set aside for changing into and out of work-clothes and for their storage.

 

Changing areas should have adequate seating and either contain or communicate directly with clothes storage and, if necessary, showers.

 

Changing and clothes storage areas are frequently places which are used by smokers and smoking should always be prohibited in them because of the serious fire risk as well as the effect of "secondhand" smoke on other users. Consideration should be given to smoke detection in clothes storage areas.  For more information see the Smoking Guidelines and the Fire Safety Guidance.

 

Privacy, religious and cultural considerations should be considered.  See the BBC Diversity Site for more information.