Ventilation

Regulation 6 states that, in enclosed workplaces, employers must provide effective and suitable ventilation to supply a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air. Ventilation plants must give warning of failure if it is necessary for health and safety reasons.

The revised ACOP and guidance says that enclosed workplaces should be sufficiently well ventilated so that stale air, and air which is hot or humid because of the processes or equipment in the workplace, is replaced at a reasonable rate. The air which is introduced should, as far as possible, be free of any impurity which is likely to be offensive or cause ill health. Air which is taken from the outside can normally be considered to be “fresh”, although air inlets should not be sited, for example, close to a flue, an exhaust ventilation system outlet, or an area in which vehicles manoeuvre. Where necessary, the inlet air should be filtered to remove particulate air pollution. In addition, workers should not be subject to uncomfortable draughts.