Planning Modern Staff Welfare Facilities : A Guide

The Growing Importance of Staff Welfare in Modern Workplaces

In today’s workplaces, especially those involving outdoor work, industrial environments, or uniformed staff, providing modern, well-planned staff welfare facilities is essential. These facilities directly impact worker health, safety, morale, and productivity. Architects and contractors play a pivotal role in shaping these spaces during the design and planning phase, ensuring they meet both practical needs and legal requirements.

One often overlooked but vital component of welfare facilities is the provision for drying work clothing and uniforms. Wet or damp clothing not only causes discomfort but also poses hygiene risks and can reduce workforce efficiency.  

This guide explains why drying cabinets are a critical element in modern welfare facilities design, how they help meet legal obligations under UK health and safety law, and practical considerations for their integration into building plans. Our aim is to equip you with the knowledge and practical insights needed to specify drying cabinets confidently, ensuring your welfare facilities designs are safe, compliant, and fit for the future.

Understanding the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Staff Welfare Facilities

The Employer’s Legal Duty

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (supported by the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L24), employers must provide adequate welfare facilities “so far as is reasonably practicable” to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees while at work (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.PDF).

These regulations apply broadly across workplaces, including offices, factories, hospitals, and construction sites (with some specific provisions for temporary sites). They require suitable facilities for:

• Toilets and washing
• Drinking water
• Rest and eating areas
• Changing rooms and clothing accommodation
• Facilities for drying clothing where necessary

Key Relevant Regulations

• Regulation 23 (Accommodation for clothing). Employers must provide suitable and sufficient accommodation for clothing not worn during working hours. This includes separate storage for personal and work clothing and facilities to allow wet clothing to dry during the working day or between shifts.
• Regulation 24 (Facilities for changing clothing). Where workers wear special clothing (uniforms, PPE), suitable changing facilities must be provided, with separate provision for men and women where necessary.
• Regulation 6 (Ventilation) and Regulation 8 (Lighting). Welfare facilities, including drying areas, must be adequately ventilated and lit to maintain hygiene and comfort.

Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.PDF

HSE Guidance on Drying Facilities

The HSE’s guidance makes clear that drying facilities should enable wet or damp clothing to be dried by the start of the next work period, stored separately from clean clothing, and kept in a clean, warm, and well-ventilated place. This is essential to prevent health risks such as skin infections, respiratory issues, and discomfort that can arise from wearing damp clothing.

Similarly, CIS59, the HSE’s Construction Industry guidance, highlights the importance of providing drying rooms or drying facilities on construction sites, emphasising safe and hygienic drying separate from eating or rest areas to prevent contamination and fire hazards.

Challenges Faced by Workers with Uniform Drying Needs

Workers exposed to outdoor weather, mud, rain, or industrial contaminants often return to the workplace with wet, soiled, or damp uniforms and PPE. Without adequate drying facilities, they may:

• Wear damp clothing that causes discomfort and chills, increasing risk of illness.
• Store wet clothing improperly, leading to mildew, odours, and hygiene issues.
• Resort to unsafe drying methods (e.g., near heaters or radiators), risking fire hazards.
• Experience reduced morale and productivity due to discomfort and health problems.

Providing effective drying solutions is therefore not just a welfare benefit but a legal and operational necessity, which architects and contractors should have front of mind during the design phase.

Why Drying Cabinets Are a Critical Component in Welfare Facility Design

What Are Drying Cabinets?

Drying cabinets are specialised electrical appliances designed to gently dry garments, uniforms, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that are unsuitable for traditional tumble drying. Unlike tumble dryers, drying cabinets use controlled warm air circulation without tumbling, preserving fabric quality and extending the life of delicate or heavily soiled items. They are ideal for drying wet, muddy, or contaminated workwear safely and efficiently.

Benefits Over Traditional Drying Methods

• Speed and Efficiency. Drying cabinets can dry multiple garments quickly, ensuring workers have dry clothing at shift start.
• Can Handle Wet and Soiled Workwear. Unlike tumble dryers that require clean laundry, drying cabinets safely dry wet, muddy, or contaminated uniforms and PPE without risk of damage or cross-contamination. This makes them ideal for workplaces where garments are regularly exposed to outdoor or dirty conditions.
• Hygiene. They prevent dampness and microbial growth by drying clothing thoroughly in a clean environment.
• Safety. Designed with safety features to avoid fire risks associated with makeshift drying methods.
• Space-saving. Compact and stackable units fit well into welfare facilities without requiring large drying rooms.
• Energy Efficiency. Modern cabinets optimise energy use compared to prolonged air drying or unsafe heater drying.

For more on this see our indepth Guide to Drying cabinets here.

Supporting Compliance and Worker Wellbeing

By incorporating drying cabinets, employers and designers ensure compliance with HSE regulations requiring suitable drying accommodation (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.PDF). They also promote worker health, reduce absenteeism, and enhance morale by providing a comfortable, hygienic environment.

Planning Considerations for Integrating Drying Cabinets into Welfare Facilities

Location and Layout

• External Wall Access. Position near external walls to allow ventilation ducts for exhaust air, avoiding complex fan-assisted systems and ensuring compliance with ventilation requirements under Regulation 61. (i24 doc)
• Separate Zones. Design welfare spaces with clear separation between clean/dry and soiled/wet clothing areas to prevent cross-contamination, as recommended by HSE and construction welfare guidance (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.PDF).
• Adequate Space. Allocate sufficient floor space for drying cabinets, lockers, and circulation to avoid overcrowding and ensure ease of use. Consider the minimum space standards in L24 (e.g., 11 cubic metres per person in workrooms) (i24)

Utilities and Technical Requirements

• Electrical Supply. Drying cabinets are available in both single and three-phase variants; plan for power capacity and distribution early in the design phase to avoid costly retrofits (cis 59)
• Ventilation and Exhaust.  Cabinets are available in vented and heat pump formats allowing simple install even when it is not possible to vent the units to the atmosphere.
• Lighting and Comfort. Welfare areas must be well-lit (preferably with natural light) and heated to maintain comfortable temperatures, supporting Regulations 7 and 81. (i24).

Access and Future-Proofing

• Maintenance Access. Design access routes for equipment servicing and replacement, possibly integrating fire exits or service corridors to facilitate machine swaps without disruption. (cis 59)
• Scalability. Plan for future expansion or additional drying capacity to accommodate workforce growth or changing operational needs.
• Security. Provide lockable storage and secure drying spaces to protect workers’ clothing, meeting HSE’s security recommendations. (i24)

Podab Drying Cabinets: Expert Solutions for Welfare Facility Compliance

Podab UK offers a comprehensive range of drying cabinets designed specifically for business environments with uniform drying needs. Our products combine advanced drying technology, safety features, and flexible sizing to meet diverse client requirements.

Key Features

• Gentle, Controlled Drying. Protects delicate fabrics and PPE from damage.
• Energy Efficiency. Reduces operational costs and environmental impact.
• Safety Systems. Includes fire prevention and sensor-activated controls.
• Capacity Options. From compact units to large multi-door cabinets for high-volume use.
• Technical Support. Expert guidance from planning through installation ensures seamless integration into welfare facilities.

By specifying Podab drying cabinets early in the design process, architects and contractors can ensure compliance with HSE regulations and deliver superior staff welfare solutions.

Final Thoughts | Future-Proof Your Designs With Properly Specified Drying Facilities

Architects and contractors have a crucial role in shaping staff welfare facilities that comply with legal requirements and support workforce wellbeing. Incorporating drying cabinets is not just good practice-it is essential for meeting HSE regulations on accommodation for clothing and drying facilities.

Drying cabinets offer a reliable, efficient, and compliant solution tailored to modern workplace needs. Early engagement with Podab’s planning experts ensures your designs are practical, future-proof, and aligned with health and safety standards.

Additional Resources and Contact

• HSE Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (L24 ACOP): Detailed guidance on welfare facilities requirements.
• HSE CIS59 Construction Industry Guidance: Best practices for welfare facilities on construction sites.
• Podab Technical Datasheets and Planning Support: Contact Podab UK for bespoke advice and product specification.

FAQs

1. Why are drying cabinets important in staff welfare facilities?

Drying cabinets provide a safe, hygienic, and efficient way to dry wet workwear and PPE, helping employers comply with HSE regulations on clothing accommodation and improving worker comfort and productivity.

2. What are the key HSE requirements for staff welfare facilities?

HSE regulations require employers to provide adequate toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas, changing rooms, and suitable accommodation for drying and storing work clothing in clean, warm, and well-ventilated spaces.

3. How can architects and contractors plan for drying cabinets in welfare facilities?

By allocating space near external walls for ventilation, ensuring sufficient electrical supply, designing separate zones for clean and soiled clothing, and planning for maintenance access and future scalability.

4. Are drying cabinets legally required in welfare facilities?

While HSE regulations mandate suitable drying facilities for wet clothing, they do not specify drying cabinets by name. However, drying cabinets are a highly effective and recommended solution to meet these legal requirements.

5. What benefits do Podab drying cabinets offer for workplace welfare?

Podab drying cabinets offer gentle, energy-efficient drying with safety features, flexible capacity options, and expert planning support, ensuring compliance with welfare regulations and enhancing staff wellbeing.

6. How do drying cabinets contribute to workplace hygiene and safety?

By thoroughly drying uniforms and PPE, drying cabinets prevent dampness-related health risks, reduce microbial growth, and eliminate unsafe drying practices like using heaters or radiators.

7. What other welfare facilities should be included alongside drying cabinets?

Adequate toilets and washbasins, clean drinking water, rest and eating areas, changing rooms with lockers, and well-ventilated, heated spaces are essential components of compliant staff welfare facilities.

8. How does early specification of drying cabinets benefit construction projects?

Early specification ensures proper space, utilities, and ventilation planning, reduces costly retrofits, supports compliance from the outset, and streamlines procurement and installation processes.