Construction compliance guide
Construction Site Welfare: Toilets, Washing, Water and Rest Areas
TL;DR
People need suitable welfare from the start of construction work, not after the site becomes busy. CDM 2015 Schedule 2 covers toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, changing, eating and rest. The right arrangement depends on the size and type of work, the workforce, the site location and how long the job lasts.
This guide covers Great Britain under CDM 2015. Northern Ireland has separate CDM 2016 arrangements; see HSENI's CDM 2016 guidance if that is where the work takes place.
On a commercial project, contractors provide welfare for workers under their control. On a project with more than one contractor, a principal contractor must ensure suitable welfare is provided and maintained from the start of the construction phase to the end. On a single-contractor domestic project, the contractor normally takes on the domestic client's duties as well as its own. If more than one contractor is involved, the principal contractor normally takes on those client duties; a principal designer can take them on instead only with a written agreement where more than one contractor is involved. A householder doing DIY work is a different situation. “Small domestic job” does not mean “no welfare plan” when a contractor is doing work on the client's behalf.
Put your welfare arrangements in writing as part of your CPP
Set up a free account and generate the RAMS, construction phase plan and site induction for one real job. No card needed.
Start free →In this guide
What to provide
Toilets
Provide suitable toilets that are available, accessible, ventilated, lit and kept clean. Flushing toilets connected to mains drainage are preferred where reasonably practicable. If that is not possible, use a suitable built-in supply and drainage arrangement; portable chemical toilets may be appropriate where other options are not available.
The often-quoted one toilet for seven people is an HSE planning indication for chemical toilets for a 40-hour week, based on BS 6465-1:2006. It is not a fixed CDM number that answers every site. Consider the number of people, working hours, duration, separate facilities where needed, distance from the work and how often the facilities are serviced. A larger or heavily used site may need more. Keep toilet paper and handwashing supplies available and set a cleaning and servicing arrangement before work starts.
Washing facilities
Provide basins with hot and cold, or warm, running water, soap and towels or a hand dryer. The facility should be large enough for people to wash their hands, faces and forearms, with adequate light and ventilation. Put washing facilities near the toilets and changing area where possible.
If the work involves substances such as cement, lead, oils or other contaminants, consider the risk assessment carefully. Washing may need to be separated from eating areas, and showers may be necessary for the particular exposure. Do not treat a cold tap, a bucket and a packet of wipes as an automatic substitute for the required arrangement.
Drinking water
Make wholesome drinking water available at all times, clearly identified and easy to reach. Mains water is preferred where possible. If water is stored or bottled, prevent contamination and staleness, keep the supply replenished and provide cups unless there is a suitable drinking fountain or individual drinking container.
Eating and rest areas
Provide enough tables and seats with backs so people can eat and take breaks. The area should allow food to be prepared and eaten, and water to be boiled. It should have suitable ventilation in warm weather and heating in cold weather, be kept clean and tidy, and not be used to store plant, materials or contaminated equipment.
Changing, lockers and drying
Schedule 2 paragraph 4 triggers changing rooms only when both conditions are met: a worker has to wear special clothing for the work, and cannot, for reasons of health or propriety, be expected to change elsewhere. Where they are required, they must also let people dry special clothing and personal clothing. Where necessary for reasons of propriety, provide separate changing rooms for men and women, or arrange separate use. Give people secure storage for personal clothing and equipment. Keep contaminated protective clothing separate from everyday clothing and provide a way to dry wet workwear where the job requires it.
Planning a small domestic job
Discuss welfare with the homeowner before the start date. An existing toilet or washing facility may be used only with the owner's agreement and if workers can access it during working hours, it is kept clean, and consumables are replenished. Record who is responsible for cleaning and access. If the bathroom will be removed, isolated or unavailable, arrange an alternative before that stage begins.
For a short or mobile job, a welfare unit, hired toilet or another suitable arrangement may be proportionate. Put it where workers can reach it without crossing an unsafe area or walking an unreasonable distance. Revisit the plan when the workforce, work stage or site conditions change. A client's permission to use a facility does not remove the need to keep it suitable and available.
Who does what under CDM
- The commercial client must ensure suitable welfare is provided through the project's management arrangements and supply relevant pre-construction information.
- On a project with more than one contractor, the principal contractor plans, manages, monitors and coordinates the construction phase, and ensures welfare is provided and maintained throughout it.
- Every contractor must plan, manage and monitor work under its control and ensure suitable welfare for its workers, including on projects with a principal contractor.
- On a single-contractor domestic project, the contractor normally takes on the client duties as well as its own. With more than one contractor, those duties normally pass to the principal contractor. Where there is more than one contractor, a principal designer can take them on instead only through a written agreement with the domestic client.
The construction phase plan should explain the welfare arrangements, their location, who checks and services them, and what changes when the work moves. An induction should tell the team where the facilities are and how to report a problem.
A simple start-of-shift welfare check
Before work begins, check that:
- toilets are accessible, clean, ventilated, lit and stocked;
- washing water runs and soap and towels or a dryer are available;
- drinking water is identified, fresh and replenished;
- rest and eating space has enough usable seats and tables and is not being used for storage;
- changing, locker and drying arrangements match the clothing and exposure risks;
- access to the facilities is safe and reasonably close; and
- cleaning, servicing and defect reporting responsibilities are clear.
Repeat the check after a move, change of workforce, change of work stage, severe weather or a change in hazardous substances. Fix a missing consumable promptly and record a bigger defect with the person responsible for closing it out.
Welfare in your CPP and RAMS
The Site Book generates construction phase plans, RAMS and site inductions. Generated RAMS contain pre-filled site-specific hazards and control measures for you to review and adjust. Use the documents to record the actual facilities, location, access, cleaning/servicing arrangements, responsible person and emergency contacts. A generated document does not decide whether a facility is suitable for a particular workforce or exposure.
For related planning, see CDM 2015 for small builders, what happens during an HSE site inspection and the site induction guide.
Common questions
Do I always need one toilet for every seven workers?
No. That is an HSE indication for a particular chemical-toilet and 40-hour-week scenario. Plan for the real workforce, hours, duration, site and servicing needs.
Can workers use the client’s bathroom?
Sometimes, with the owner’s agreement, access during working hours, a clean facility and a plan for consumables. Arrange an alternative if it will be unavailable or unsuitable.
Does a welfare cabin have to be provided?
Not necessarily. The arrangement must be suitable for the work and people using it. A hired unit, existing facility or other option can be considered where it meets the need and remains available.
Is first aid part of Schedule 2 welfare?
First-aid arrangements are a separate health and safety duty. Decide them from the job’s first-aid needs assessment and record them in the site plan. Do not describe first aid as one of the Schedule 2 welfare facilities.
What a welfare plan covers — and what it must avoid
Pros
- Plans toilets, washing, drinking water, rest, changing and drying before work starts.
- Names who checks access, cleaning, supplies and servicing as the job changes.
- Lets a small domestic job use an agreed existing facility when it remains suitable and available.
Cons
- A fixed headcount ratio cannot decide the right number of facilities for every job.
- The client’s permission does not make a dirty, inaccessible or unavailable bathroom suitable.
- A CPP record cannot replace the daily checks and servicing that keep facilities usable.
| Facility | Plan before work | Check during the job |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Number, location, access and servicing. | Clean, ventilated, lit and stocked. |
| Washing | Running warm water, soap and drying. | Working and suitable for the exposure risks. |
| Drinking water | Wholesome, identified supply and cups. | Fresh, accessible and replenished. |
| Rest and eating | Seats with backs, tables, heating or ventilation. | Clean, usable and not used for storage. |
| Changing and drying | Privacy, secure storage and drying where needed. | Matches clothing, weather and exposure risks. |
“Welfare facilities should be provided from the start of work on site.”
Need a Construction Phase Plan?
Your CPP should record the site's welfare arrangements. Draft a plan from a plain-English job description, then review and adapt it for your site.
Free CPP generator →Plan the welfare before work starts.
Build the CPP, RAMS and site induction for one real job. Then check the facilities remain suitable through the job.
Sources
- Construction welfare overview — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- Toilets and washing — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- Changing rooms, lockers, rest and eating — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- Welfare facilities FAQ — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- CDM 2015 summary — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- Domestic clients: roles and responsibilities — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026
- Principal contractors: roles and responsibilities — HSE · Accessed 12 September 2026