BWF members such as yourselves frequently use our Member and Technical Helplines for assistance on a wide range of Employment, Health and Safety, Contractual and Technical issues. We’re putting up a frequently asked question every Tuesday in order to help members and illustrate the type of advice we are able to provide. If you have any questions that you would like to see featured, we would be happy to assist. This question and many others like it can be found in our Question Centre. If you want further advice on any of the issues, don’t hesitate to ring the helpline or browse our extensive publications library, which includes a draft statement of main terms of employment, a model drugs and alcohol useage policy, training advice, procedures for dealing with ill health absences, and, of course, the BWF’s Employee Handbook. This week: We Are Renewing Our Facilities For Staff To Rest And Eat Their Own Food. What Do We Need To Provide? The requirements covering such areas would be The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, which dictate that where workers regularly eat meals at work, suitable, sufficient and readily accessible facilities should be provided for the purpose. Such facilities should also be provided where food would otherwise be likely to be contaminated. Work areas can be counted as rest areas and also as eating facilities, provided they are adequately clean and there is a suitable surface on which to place food. Dusty areas on workshops are unlikely to be appropriate and the areas should of course be free of smoke, as is legally required. Where provided, eating facilities should include a facility for preparing or obtaining a hot drink, such as an electric kettle, vending machine or canteen. Where hot food cannot be obtained in or reasonably near to the workplace, workers may need to be provided with a means for heating their own food (for example a microwave oven). Canteens or restaurants may be used as rest facilities provided there is no obligation to purchase food. Seats should be provided for workers to use during breaks. These should be in a place where personal protective equipment need not be worn and the workers should not be subject to excessive disturbance. Rest areas or rooms should be large enough and have sufficient seats with backrests and tables for the number of workers likely to use them at any one time, including suitable access and seating which is adequate for the number of disabled people at work. Suitable rest facilities should be provided for pregnant women and nursing mothers. These should be near to sanitary facilities and, where necessary, include the facility to lie down.