WEL/General/TBT-WEL-012

Night Shift Welfare Arrangements

Welfare & Site Setup › General › Night Shift Welfare Arrangements

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CDM 2015 requires the same standard of welfare facilities for night shifts as for daytime working.
Night workers need access to heated rest areas, toilet facilities, drinking water, and washing facilities.
Hot food and drink provision is particularly important for night workers to maintain energy and body temperature.
Welfare facilities must be well lit, accessible, and regularly cleaned during the night shift period.
Night shift workers are more susceptible to fatigue — rest areas should support genuine recovery breaks.
Toilet and washing facilities must be adequate for the night shift workforce size and available throughout.
First aid provision including trained first aiders must be maintained during all night working periods.
Security of welfare units at night is important — workers must feel safe using facilities.
Drying rooms for wet clothing are especially important during night working in wet weather conditions.
The principal contractor must plan welfare provision for night shifts before night working commences.

Legal requirement	CDM 2015 Schedule 2 requires adequate welfare facilities for all workers regardless of the time of day or night.
Worker health	Night workers need hot food, warm rest areas, and proper facilities to maintain health and alertness.
Fatigue management	Quality rest breaks in proper facilities are essential for managing fatigue risk during night shifts.

Don't

Ensure welfare facilities are open, heated, lit, and clean for every night shift
Provide hot drink and food preparation facilities throughout the night
Maintain toilet and washing facilities at the same standard as daytime shifts
Check welfare facilities are fully stocked and operational before the night shift starts
Provide a heated drying room for wet weather clothing during night operations
Ensure at least one trained first aider is on site during every night shift
Light the route between work areas and welfare facilities adequately
Schedule rest breaks in genuine rest areas away from the noise and activity
Scale welfare provision to the night shift workforce numbers
Brief the night shift on the location of all welfare facilities and first aid

DON'T reduce welfare provision for night shifts compared to daytime operations
DON'T leave welfare facilities unlocked and unsecured during night hours
DON'T allow welfare units to run out of drinking water, soap, or toilet supplies
DON'T expect workers to bring all their own food and drink for a full night shift
DON'T leave welfare facilities unlit — workers need safe access at all times
DON'T skip rest breaks during night shifts — fatigue increases accident risk
DON'T start night working before welfare arrangements are fully in place
DON'T use the welfare area as a storage room for tools or materials at night
DON'T leave cleaning of welfare facilities until the day shift arrives
DON'T operate a night shift without a trained first aider available on site

See also: Welfare Facilities Standards | Fatigue Management for Night Shifts

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