Toilets at work may seem like a detail to some, but they are essential to ensure a safe, healthy and productive workplace. What does the law saw about the provision of toilets and how unhealthy is to put off a visit to the loo?
Tuesday 19 November is World Toilet Day and to mark this, drivers that work for the Flemish public transport company De Lijn have issued an appeal for better provision of toilet facility for those that spend their working lives driving buses on our region’s roads.
Many places where in the past drivers were able to stop to go and spend a penny are no longer open. De Lijn has made efforts to provide sanitary facility for drivers by installing portable toilets at roadsides. However, the Christian trade union ACV says that these are inadequate and unhygienic. “Not all drivers have the same hygiene standards and in many of the models used, the urinal for men hangs at face level when you sit down on the standard toilet” the union said.
Health risks
ACV adds that due to the lack of (clean) toilets a lot of drivers often put off going to the toilet. The Leuven University (KUL) professor of occupational medicine Lode Godderis says that this often happens at other workplaces too. “Research shows that ‘toilet avoidance’ at work is common”
“1 in 5 workers say they avoid toilets at work for fear of contamination or because of hygiene issues. More than half of workers (51%) occasionally limit visits to the toilet while at work”. This is significantly more common among women avoid than it is among men.
Workers prefer to wait until they are at home to go to the toilet. However, putting off going to the toilet is not without risk. “Delaying toilet visits can lead to serious health problems, including urinary tract infections and bladder dysfunction. Employees that delay toilet visits are 1.37 to 3.52 times more likely to have bladder and urinary tract issues”.
“Employees who delay toilet visits are at increased risk of issues such as stress incontinence. Health problems such as these lead not only to physical issues, but also to increased stress and psychological discomfort among employees.”
Professor Godderis went on to say that “Toilet avoidance also has a clear impact on productivity,’ Research shows that workers with severe health issues such as urinary incontinence often reduce their working hours and are more likely to quit their jobs. Women with urinary incontinence problems in particular are less productive and says that their performance at work suffers as a result”.
What does the law say?
According to the Codex on well-being at work. Employers are obliged to provide adequate and accessible toilet facilities for all employees. The regulations contained in the Codex that follow European Directive 89/654/EEC, set minimum requirements for health and safety in the workplace. Compliance with these rules prevents health problems and ensures a safe and comfortable working environment for employees.
The following key recommendations are made to ensure a healthy and productive working environment:
- Design and facilities: at least one toilet for every 15 workers working simultaneously. Provide adequate ventilation, soundproofing and non-slip floors.
- Accessibility: ensure clear signage, gender-neutral options and accessible facilities on each floor.
- Break policy: ensure structured breaks every two hours and protocols for emergency access to toilets.
- Workplace culture: create an open culture where employees can report problems with the facilities and offer support to employees with medical conditions that require more frequent toilet use.