Welfare Facilities

Welfare facilities are the toilets, washing, rest, and changing provisions employers must supply for workers, required on sites under CDM 2015.

Welfare facilities are the basic provisions that must be available to workers, including toilets, washing facilities, a supply of drinking water, somewhere to rest and eat, and, where needed, changing rooms and storage for clothing. On construction sites, Schedule 2 of the CDM Regulations 2015 sets out the specific welfare requirements that must be provided from the start of the project.

For workplaces generally, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set out similar duties. Providing adequate, clean, and accessible welfare facilities is a legal duty, not an optional extra, and is enforced by the HSE.

Adequate welfare supports the health, dignity, and hygiene of the workforce, and its provision is one of the items commonly checked during site inspections and audits.