Agenda item

3.1

The Board received a question from Sophie Rutter:

“I’ve been leading a project at Sheffield University that looks at the challenges workers face when trying to access hygiene facilities when working away from a fixed work base. We have found that many of these mobile workers (e.g. food couriers, community care workers, police) do not have access to hygiene facilities while at work. This is particularly concerning as with the decline in provision of public toilets and the closure of department stores mobile workers might not be able to access any hygiene facilities during their working day. This is a public health concern as opportunities for hygiene protect workers from infections and access to facilities helps prevent illnesses associated with restricting fluid intake and ignoring urges. I would like to ask if there are any plans to increase public toilet provision in the Sheffield city area.”

The Chair (Councillor Angela Argenzio) provided the following answer to Sophie’s question:

3.

“The Council recognises that public toilet provision is important for supporting accessibility, and health and wellbeing.  However, the provision of public toilets in some sites may only be financially sustainable if they are provided alongside other facilities.  In our parks, for example, this may mean public toilets being provided alongside a refreshment offer.

SCC (Sheffield City Council) has a range of existing maintained/managed facilities within many of our key sites across Sheffield including Endcliffe, Millhouses, Firth, Forge Dam, Graves, Ecclesall Woods, Stannington Park (Café), Centre in the Park (Norfolk Park), the Botanical Gardens, Weston Park (within the museum) – and a full list of these can be provided.

We have been working with partners to establish facilities that include toilets and toilet/refreshments facilities across green spaces. This includes:

-          Shirebrook Valley Visitors Centre refurbishment

-          Hillsborough Park AgeUK Sheffield Coachhouse Café facility (alongside the Gathering Ground suite of buildings that include the Makers Shed and pavilion)

We have a range of projects that are in development that aim to improve toilet/refreshment facilities including:

-          Whirlow Brook Park – new café and toilets under development

-          Parkwood Springs – new kiosk and toilet provision planned as part of phase 2 of the current ‘trails and tracks’ project.

-          Hillsborough Park library is progressing a project to enhance access and toilet provision – linked to the park.

-          Hillsborough Park pavilion – Changing Places Facility

There are also some future projects in the early stages of development that will include public toilets provision if feasible. These include:

-          Hillsborough Park activity hub

-          Ecclesfield Park café

We are also working with partners on plans and opportunities for facilities at a range of further sites.

Although there are limited toilet facilities in the city centre run by SCC (the only ones currently for public use are the containers ones and in the Moor Market) there are a number of businesses that allow use of their toilets (for example McDonalds allow blue light workers and delivery drivers to use their facilities).

All SCC staff are given access to nearby depots, housing offices, libraries etc.

The responsibility for ensuring employees’ health and wellbeing including welfare facilities sits with the employer who should assess comfort breaks and welfare facilities.  The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, sections 20, 21, 22 & 25 lay out the requirements that the employer needs to meet for sanitation, drinking water, washing facilities, and facilities to rest and eat meals. However, the application of these regulations for “temporary” work, requires the employer to discharge its duties to section 20 – 25 so far as is reasonably practicable.

What that looks like for specific workers will need to be tested against the employer’s policy.  It is open to employers to engage with the Council to assess the availability of publicly accessible facilities as part of meeting the requirements of the regulations, but it remains the responsibility of the employer to ensure appropriate provision is available.”

It was suggested that other options might also be explored, such as encouraging businesses to allow people to use toilet facilities. It was also acknowledged that some people had particular circumstances which affected their access to hygiene facilities, including disabled people and people with jobs which meant that they were regularly moving around, such as lorry drivers.