Ensuring that employees have access to clean drinking water is not just a legal obligation for UK employers, but it also significantly boosts staff productivity. This article delves into the legal requirements for providing water coolers in the workplace, the health benefits of staying hydrated, and practical tips for maintaining water coolers.
In the UK, employers are legally required to provide easily accessible drinking water for their staff, free of charge, along with cups unless the water machine is equipped with a drinking fountain-style tap. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), water should ideally come from the public water supply, but bottled water dispensers are acceptable as a secondary source (HSE).
Business Link UK mandates that employers must "make an accessible seated area available for staff to eat, with access to drinking water and hot drinks" (Business Link). If employees regularly eat at the workplace, they are entitled to a designated eating area. In environments where food contamination is likely, such as factories or workshops, employers must also provide seating arrangements, hot drink facilities, and a means to heat food.
For workplaces relying on bottled water coolers, it is crucial to ensure an adequate supply, especially considering the working environment's temperature and the nature of the work activities. Employers must be vigilant about maintaining sufficient water availability to meet their employees' needs.
If employees are required to carry water bottles, it is essential to educate them on proper manual handling techniques. Employers can provide training courses or request a Manual Handling Guide from their water cooler supplier. For comprehensive health and safety risk assessments, consult the Business Link website.
Regardless of whether the water cooler is mains-fed or bottle-fed, regular cleaning and sanitization are necessary. The sanitization process should occur every three months or sooner if contamination is suspected. If the cooler is left unused for an extended period, it should be sanitized before use. When replacing water bottles, ensure that hands are clean, the bottle is within its expiration date, and the bottle is clean before placing it on the cooler.
Water constitutes up to 75% of the human body and is vital for various bodily functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, blood circulation, and waste removal. On average, the body loses about five pints of water daily, which must be replenished to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, lack of concentration, confusion, and irritability—conditions that are far from ideal for maintaining high productivity levels. Ensuring that employees have easy access to drinking water can help mitigate these issues, leading to a more efficient and productive workforce.
Providing accessible drinking water in the workplace is not only a legal requirement but also a crucial factor in maintaining employee health and productivity. Employers must ensure that water coolers are adequately supplied, properly maintained, and hygienically managed. By doing so, they can create a healthier, more productive work environment.
For more information on legal obligations and best practices for workplace hydration, visit the Health and Safety Executive and Business Link websites.
Resources:
Copyright © WaterCoolers Direct.com Ltd 2023
Win a FREE Water Cooler Competition
For a limited time only Water Coolers Direct is running quarterly competitions allowing UK customers to win a FREE water cooler.
Understanding Water Hardness in Your Region
Discover the impact of water hardness in your area, how it affects daily life, and the solutions available to manage it. This comprehensive guide delves into the causes of water hardness, its consequences, regional variations across the UK, and effective treatment options.
How to Walk on Water
All the employees of Water Coolers Direct and Water Boilers Direct are obsessed with anything to do with water, recently this topic cropped up in one of our monthly meetings and we thought that it would be fun to go back and explore the history of this phenomenon.
