Workplace hygiene refers to the standards of cleanliness that employers are expected to meet in ensuring that they provide a healthy working environment in which their staff can work, as well as clean and safe premises for members of the public to visit. It also refers to maintaining acceptable standards of cleanliness and safety for products to be manufactured or services to be carried out in accordance with any regulatory requirements.
The hygiene requirements applicable to a workplace can differ from business to business, depending on the industry and the nature of the work being undertaken. In some cases, where there is a high risk of bacterial or viral contamination, special health and safety measures may be required. A good example of this would be in the preparation of food, where there is a high risk of food poisoning from salmonella, e-coli and campylobacter.
However, there are some key areas of workplace hygiene that all employers are required to address in reducing the risk of infection and illness from bacteria, germs and viruses. These include work area cleanliness, clean restroom and kitchen facilities, and personal hygiene.
The law on workplace hygiene
All employers, regardless of size, have a statutory duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees, as well as the health and safety of other people who might be affected by their business. This duty is set out under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
An important requirement in meeting this duty is for employers to take all steps, as far as is reasonably practicable, to prevent any infection or illness arising as a result of poor hygiene standards. This means that all employers must identify any contamination risks to which an employee may be exposed and implement appropriate measures to control these risks.
In addition, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require all employers to carry out a “suitable and sufficient” assessment of the potential risks to health and safety to which their employees are exposed at work, and the health and safety of any visitors “arising out of or in connection with” the way in which the business is run.
Collectively, the statutory provisions require employers to:
- assess the risks associated with illness and infection raising from contamination
- put in place adequate controls to minimise these risks in the workplace
- appoint competent people to oversee this risk management process
- provide information to employees about the risks to their health
- arrange for training on workplace hygiene and infection control, where necessary.
If you have five or more employees you must also have a written health and safety policy statement, recording the significant findings of your risk assessment and setting out how you manage health and safety in your organisation.