Rest area requirements

• Rest areas or rooms should be large enough and have sufficient seats with backrests and tables for the number of workers likely to use them at any time.
• They must include suitable facilities to eat meals, where meals are regularly eaten in the workplace and the food would otherwise be likely to become contaminated.
• Seats must be provided for workers to use during breaks.
• Seats should be in a place where personal protective equipment need not be worn.
• Work areas can be counted as rest areas and as eating facilities, provided they are adequately clean and there is a suitable surface on which to place food.

Food and drink

• Where provided, eating facilities should include a facility for preparing or obtaining a hot drink.
• Where hot food cannot be obtained in, or reasonably near to the workplace, workers may need to be provided with a means for heating their own food.
• Canteens or restaurants may be used as rest facilities provided there is no obligation to purchase food.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers

• Suitable rest facilities should be provided for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
• They should be near to sanitary facilities and where necessary, include the facility to lie down.

Smoking

• Rest areas and rest rooms away from the workstation should include suitable arrangements to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke.
• All places of work must be smoke free as from 1 July 2007.