6.1 CDM 2015 Schedule 2 Welfare Facilities Standards & Site Setup Requirements

Statutory Framework for Site Welfare Facilities

Provision of adequate welfare facilities is a fundamental legal obligation under UK construction safety legislation. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), specifically Regulation 13(4)(b) for Principal Contractors and Regulation 15(11) for Contractors, suitable and sufficient welfare facilities must be made available before any construction work begins on site. Welfare facilities must remain fully operational and maintained in a clean, hygienic condition throughout the entire construction phase until project completion.

CDM 2015 explicitly incorporates Schedule 2 (Minimum Welfare Facilities), which translates general statutory duties under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 into prescriptive requirements tailored to construction site environments. HSE operational guidance (CIS59 - Provision of welfare facilities during construction work) reinforces that welfare facilities are not an optional luxury or a secondary consideration; failing to provide compliant welfare before starting site operations constitutes a direct breach of statutory duty resulting in HSE Prohibition Notices and prosecution.

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CDM 2015 Schedule 2 Statutory Standards

Schedule 2 sets out mandatory minimum standards across five core welfare areas that site managers must establish and maintain.

1. Sanitary Conveniences (Schedule 2, Paragraph 1)

Sanitary facilities must be provided in sufficient numbers relative to the size of the workforce. They must meet the following legal requirements:

• Enclosure & Privacy: Fully enclosed cubicles with lockable doors from the inside to guarantee user privacy.
• Ventilation & Lighting: Adequately ventilated to external air and fitted with artificial or natural lighting.
• Cleanliness & Maintenance: Kept in a clean and hygienic condition, with regular daily cleaning schedules documented on site.
• Flushing Mechanism: Flushed by water connected to mains drainage or an effective chemical recirculating system (flushing chemical toilets).
• Provision Ratios: Standard HSE guidance recommends a minimum ratio of 1 WC to 5 persons for mixed gender use (or 1 WC to 5 males where urinals are also provided). On sites where daily professional cleaning is maintained, a ratio of 1 WC to 7 persons is acceptable.
• Gender Specificity: Separate toilet facilities must be provided for men and women unless each facility is in a separate lockable room intended for use by one person at a time.

2. Washing Facilities (Schedule 2, Paragraph 2)

Washing facilities must be located in the immediate vicinity of sanitary conveniences and changing rooms. Statutory requirements include:

• Water Supply: Clean hot and cold, or warm, running water. Cold water alone is non-compliant except in temporary emergency setups.
• Cleansing Agents: Continuous supply of soap or other suitable cleansing agents (heavy-duty skin cleansers for trades handling resins, oils, or tar).
• Drying Facilities: Hygienic means of drying hands—such as disposable paper towels or warm-air hand dryers. Shared cloth towels or roller towels are strictly prohibited due to cross-infection risks.
• Basin Dimensions: Washing basins must be large enough to allow workers to wash their hands, forearms, and face simultaneously. This is critical for groundworkers, masons, and demolition operatives handling hazardous contaminants like silica dust, cement, lead, or COSHH substances.

3. Drinking Water (Schedule 2, Paragraph 3)

Site management must ensure an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water is readily accessible to all site personnel:

• Supply & Marking: Water must be supplied directly from mains tap water or clean storage containers. Where non-potable water (e.g. recycled wash water) exists on site, drinking taps must be clearly marked with legible statutory notices.
• Cups & Fountains: Provided with clean drinking cups or drinking fountains. Cups must be protected against site dust contamination.

4. Accommodation for Clothing & Changing Facilities (Schedule 2, Paragraph 4)

Construction work exposes operatives to weather extremes, wet conditions, and hazardous substances. Schedule 2 requires:

• Separate Storage: Facilities enabling workers to lock away personal non-work clothing separate from protective work clothing (PPE).
• Drying Accommodation: Dedicated, heated drying rooms with coat hooks, racks, and mechanical ventilation to dry wet foul-weather gear overnight.
• Changing Rooms: Mandatory changing rooms where workers must change into specialized protective clothing (e.g., asbestos abatement, lead removal, or chemical protective suits) or where privacy is required between male and female workers.

5. Rest Facilities (Schedule 2, Paragraph 5)

Site personnel require protected space to consume food, rest, and shelter from bad weather. Rest accommodation must satisfy:

• Protection & Environment: Fully enclosed, weatherproof, adequately heated, lit, and free from site dust, chemical fumes, and noise.
• Seating with Backs: Mandatory provision of tables and seating equipped with back support. Stools, wooden benches without backs, or inverted buckets are strictly non-compliant.
• Food Preparation: Means for heating food (microwave ovens or hobs) and boiling water (electric kettles or water boilers).
• Clean Water: Easy access to clean water for washing eating utensils.
• Non-Smoking Requirement: All rest units must be designated strictly non-smoking and non-vaping zones, with clear safety signage displayed.

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Welfare Planning, Setup Logistics & Utilities

Establishing compliant welfare requires careful logistics planning during the pre-construction phase.

Utility Connections and Waste Logistics

During early site setup, connection to permanent mains water and mains drainage may take several weeks. Where static modular cabins are installed before utility grid connection:

• Fresh Water Bowsers: Water must be delivered by bowsers and pumped via automated pressure pumps. Potable water tanks must be sanitized regularly.
• Effluent Storage Tanks: Effluent tanks beneath toilets must be sized correctly based on worker numbers and emptied on a scheduled tankering contract with a licensed waste carrier.
• Electrical Safety: Electrical supplies to welfare units must be installed by a competent electrician (NICEIC/ECA registered) with Residual Current Device (RCD) protection operating at 30mA trip threshold.