Hygiene in the workplace

information page

Understanding the problem

The required standards of hygiene in the workplace are more stringent than they have ever been. Business owners are responsible for providing safe surfaces in good serviceable order. There is also a responsibility on employers to ensure that their employees maintain standards of cleanliness and hygiene each working day, or that provision is in place for a cleaning regime.

The future success of a business can depend on this so its worth considering in investment in seamless, hygienic & durable surfaces which allow staff to quickly and easily clean down surfaces to support the high standards expected.

What you need to do;

You must keep your premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition.

The layout, design, construction, site and size of your premises must:

Allow adequate maintenance, cleaning and/or disinfection.

Avoid or minimise air-borne contamination (i.e. contamination carried in the air).

Provide enough working space for you to carry out all tasks hygienically.

Protect against the build-up of dirt, contact with toxic materials, shedding of particles into food and forming of condensation or mould on surfaces.

Allow good food hygiene practices, including protection against contamination and, in particular, pest control.

Provide, where necessary, suitable conditions for handling and storing food while keeping it at appropriate temperatures. Those temperatures should be monitored and, where necessary, recorded.

What you must comply with;

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Requires employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone affected by their work, so far as is reasonably practicable.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Require employers to assess risks (including slip and trip risks) and where necessary, take action to address them.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

Require floors to be suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions. People should be able to move around safely.

How we can help;

BIF have provided a complete hygienic floor, wall & ceiling package for almost 20 years for areas where hygiene and safety are paramount.

Floor Finishes

Our resin floor screeds provide a seamless alternative to ceramic floor tiles & vinyl safety flooring, so dirt and bacteria have few places to hide.

Resin is easily formed around walls, sumps and plinths. With no unecessary joints or trims, the risk of holding harmful bacteria is minimised.

A resin floor is incredibly durable too, safe underfoot and resistant to impact from heavy or sharp objects.

Wall Finishes

Our PVCu Hygienic Wall Cladding provides a simple wipe down solution to splashes. Meeting all current legislation using standard Trims, we also offer a welded joint option for critical areas.

Our system is Thermoformed at internal & external corners, to provide an exceptionally neat and hygienic surface, without trims.

BIF also offer Hygienic Wall Coatings which provide a hygienic solution to service and stores areas.

Ceiling Finishes

Our PVCu option continues across ceilings to where we offer a finish which can be washed down.

Our high gloss white ceilings really raise standards and can be hosed down without damaging the finish. Ideal for high humidity areas, as the finish does not support bacterial development.

With added flush lighting, a thoroughly hygienic package is available to support the needs of your business.

Drainage Systems

Providing drainage can easily be overlooked but drainage can become a really important part of creating a hygienic working area.

Allowing for easy cleaning down, surfaces are likely to be cleaned more often because staff can easily expel the dirty wash water.

Our systems are Stainless Steel, with a wide choice of standard off the shelf units, or we can fabricate precisely what you need, exactly how you want it.

Where we can help;