S.I. No. 181/1973:

LAUNDRIES (WELFARE) REGULATIONS, 1973.

LAUNDRIES (WELFARE) REGULATIONS, 1973.

I, MICHAEL O'LEARY, Minister for Labour, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 6 , 8 and 57 of the Factories Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), and the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1966 ( S.I. No. 164 of 1966 ), after consultation with the Minister for Health, and after due compliance with the provisions of the Third Schedule to that Act, hereby make as special regulations the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Laundries (Welfare) Regulations, 1973.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of September, 1973.

3. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this Regulation, these Regulations shall apply to all factories (and parts of factories) which are laundries.

(2) Regulation 6 of these Regulations shall not apply to a factory (or part of a factory) in which not more than five persons are employed.

4. The occupier of a factory shall provide and maintain in good and clean condition--

(a) for the use of all persons employed in processes involving exposure to wetness, suitable protective clothing and waterproof boots or other footwear, and

(b) for persons engaged in sorting soiled linen, suitable overalls or aprons with bibs, and armlets of a sufficient length to cover the wearer from the wrist to the elbow.

5. (1) The occupier of a factory shall provide and maintain for the use of all persons employed by him suitable cloakroom accommodation for clothing taken off whilst those persons are working, together with adequate arrangements for drying any such clothing, if it is wet.

(2) Any cloakroom accommodation provided in pursuance of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be placed in the charge of a responsible person appointed by the occupier of the factory and shall be kept clean.

6. (1) The occupier of a factory shall provide and maintain for the use of all persons employed by him who remain in the factory during any time allowed for meals a suitable messroom, which shall be furnished with--

(a) sufficient tables and chairs, or benches with back rests, and

(b) unless a canteen serving hot meals is provided, adequate means of heating food and boiling water.

(2) A messroom provided in pursuance of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall--

(a) have an adequate means of heating,

(b) be separate from any cloakroom provided in pursuance of Regulation 5 of these Regulations,

(c) be placed in the charge of a responsible person appointed by the occupier of the factory, and

(d) be kept clean.

7. (1) In relation to a factory to which these Regulations apply, washing facilities provided in accordance with section 53 of the Factories Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), for the use of persons employed in laundries shall be washing facilities which are adequate and suitable for the use of all of the persons employed in the factory.

(2) The facilities to be provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be kept in a clean and orderly condition and shall be immediately accessible, or where this is not reasonably practicable, conveniently accessible from the relevant workplace. The said facilities shall include clean running hot and cold or warm water, soap, non-abrasive nail brushes and clean towels, and, in addition either--

(a) for every fifteen persons at least one wash basin with a smooth impervious surface of a suitable size fitted with a waste pipe, or

(b) a trough with a smooth impervious surface of such length (or, in the case of a circular or oval trough, of such circumference) as to allow 1.8 metres of length for every fifteen persons making use thereof and fitted with suitable jets or sprays serving each 1.8 metres of length or circumference (as the case may be) and with a waste pipe.

8. The occupier of a factory shall provide, for all female workers employed by him whose work is done standing, facilities for sitting down which shall be available for use during any intervals which occur during the course of the work.

9. The Welfare of the Workers Employed in Laundries Order dated the 23rd day of April, 1920 (No. 654 of 1920), is hereby revoked.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 2nd day of July, 1973.

MICHAEL O`LEARY,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These regulations prescribe that occupiers of laundries must supply suitable protective clothing for the use of workers and provide adequate washing, cloakroom and messroom facilities.