We are only a very small workplace (a retail carpet store) with less than 10 employees. We only have one unisex toilet for use by staff and clients.

My question is one of my managers is starting to use the toilet as a storeroom. In the toilet he is storing stock we use to lay the carpet including chemicals.

Is this allowed under Occupational Health and Safety laws in New South Wales?

Regards

Graham Wallis

Geez, doesn’t sound like you have a very supportive employer. I guess looking at the legislation as long as your employer provides a toilet (the number of loo’s would depend on the number of employees) they are not in breach. However, by making it difficult or impossible to use that toilet could possibly be a different story. The only think I could suggest if you are hesitant in approaching your employer about the issue is to contact your regulatory body ie Workplace Health and Safety/WorkSafe etc and have a chat to them. They have Inspectors available who can come out the workplace and have a chat to your employer and advise them of what their obligations are!

Here is a handy fact sheet for you to have a look at:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/amenities_brochure.pdf

Good luck,

Joanne

Thanks for your comment – I had a squiz around the rules and requirements and it doesn’t specify between staff and clients (not in QLD anyway). But, I have attached a link to the factsheet that spells out all the requirements so, I hope this helps.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/amenities_brochure.pdf

Thanks,

Joanne

Thanks for your inquiry – yes, there are provisions for the amount of loo’s in the workplace… I have attached a very useful factsheet based on the QLD Legislation that I am sure you will find very useful!

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/amenities_brochure.pdf

Thanks again,

Joanne

Geez, you’re not in a very good spot are you? I had a look through the QLD Regulations and I found this…

Work areas and air space – Schedule 16, Part 1, Division 5
Adequate work areas and air space must be made reasonably available to allow suitable standards of
health and safety for the worker. A workplace must have a minimum unencumbered floor area of
2.3 m² for each worker. Unencumbered means clear circulation space with no fixtures or fittings
intruding within the space.

Here is the link where the information came from (the top of page 6):
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/amenities_brochure.pdf

I hope this helps!

Joanne

Thanks for your comment – sounds like a tricky predicament! I have attached a link to a factsheet based on the QLD Legislation that will be useful for you to reference the requirements and to arm yourself with the necessary information and facts for your employer!

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/amenities_brochure.pdf

Good luck!
Joanne