The basic facilities every worker is entitled to — and what the regulations require
The General Risk and Workplace Management (GRWM) Regulations 2016 require a PCBU with management or control of a workplace to provide adequate facilities for workers so far as is reasonably practicable: toilets, drinking water, hand-washing, and places to eat and rest, plus suitable lighting and ventilation. The rules apply to every workplace — including temporary, mobile and remote ones.
The GRWM Regulations 2016 sit under the HSWA. A PCBU with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that adequate facilities are provided for workers.
A “workplace” is any place where a worker goes or is likely to be while at work, or where work is carried out — which includes temporary and mobile workplaces, not just fixed premises.
| Facility | What it means |
|---|---|
| Toilets | Clean, accessible toilets, suitably located and maintained. |
| Drinking water | A supply of clean, cool drinking water. |
| Hand-washing | Washing facilities with water, soap and a way to dry hands. |
| Eating facilities | A clean place to eat, away from contaminants. |
| Rest facilities | Somewhere to rest — including if a worker becomes unwell and it is not reasonable to leave. |
| Changing & washing | Where the nature of the work makes them reasonably likely to be needed, such as dirty or wet work. |
The regulations also require suitable and sufficient lighting so workers can do their work and move around safely, and suitable and sufficient ventilation. Workers carrying out work in extremes of heat or cold must be able to do so safely — see working in heat & heat stress for how to manage thermal risk.
The duty does not stop at the office or factory gate. For temporary and mobile work — road and roadside, delivery and field work — you still have to provide access to facilities, which can mean planning routes so drivers can reach toilets. Remote or isolated workers need access to water, food, toilets and, where relevant, accommodation, plus communications that work and a check-in system. See lone & remote worker safety.
If a PCBU provides accommodation for workers, it must be maintained so workers are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from it. The GRWM Regulations also require containers of liquids that present a drowning risk to be securely covered or fenced. These sit alongside the facilities duties as part of providing a safe workplace.
Record your facilities and welfare requirements and keep them in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
Yes. The GRWM Regulations 2016 require a PCBU with management or control of a workplace to provide adequate facilities for workers, including toilets, drinking water and hand-washing, so far as is reasonably practicable.
The same facilities duties apply. A workplace includes temporary and mobile sites, so you must provide access to toilets, water and the other facilities — which can mean planning routes so mobile workers can reach them.
Yes. The regulations require suitable and sufficient lighting and ventilation, and that workers in extremes of heat or cold can work safely. The HSWA does not set a maximum temperature, but the risk must be managed.
Access to water, food, toilets and, where relevant, accommodation, along with communications that work at the location and a check-in system that triggers an emergency response if a worker does not make contact.
The Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, which sit under the HSWA, with WorkSafe interpretive guidance in two parts.
