Space

Every workroom should have sufficient floor area, height and unoccupied space (Regulation 10). The ACOP says that, as a minimum, 11 cubic metres should be allowed per person working in a room, discounting any room height over three metres. HSE guidance says that the number of people who can work in any room at the same time will depend on the size of the room, the space taken up by furniture, fittings and equipment, and the layout of the room. This means 11 cubic metres may not be sufficient if the room is crowded with equipment or furniture. The guidance suggests that in a typical room with a ceiling height of 2.4 metres, a floor area of 4.6 square metres per person is needed. Where the ceiling is three metres high or more, the minimum floor area will be 3.7 square metres.

During the coronavirus outbreak, employers also need to consider the social distancing rules on deciding how many people can work in a particular space (see page 14). The BEIS guidance for shops and stores, for example, says employers will usually need to calculate the maximum number of customers that can reasonably follow social distancing guidelines within the store and any outdoor selling areas, for example. They should take into account total floorspace as well as likely pinch points and busy areas.