How can Blackstone Hygiene help my business?
We aim to take the hassle and cost out of providing good washroom facilities for your staff and customers. We offer a wide choice of washroom equipment for rent or purchase and we install all the equipment we provide. In addition, we can service your washrooms on a regular basis to remove waste and ensure everything is in good working order.
Why should I choose Blackstone Hygiene?
There are lots of good reasons to work with us! Primarily, although we operate on a national scale, we’re a small team. So we get to know each and every one of our customers, providing a tailored service and great value for money. Unlike some of the better known national service providers, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach here.
Do we need to enter into a contract with Blackstone Hygiene?
We ask that you stay with us for 12 months, after which we hope to have provided such a good service that you want to stay with us on an ongoing basis. Our aim is to keep your business by providing a fantastic service and great value for money, not through tying you in to a long, unwieldy contract.
How much does your service cost?
Because we provide a tailored service the cost will depend upon your needs and budget. We work with high-end hotels and restaurants that want luxury products and regular service visits and we work with councils and other organisations that need a cheaper, more functional solution. Whatever your budget, we promise the same value-for-money service and tailored approach.
We are looking at ways to reduce cost, can you help us spend less on our washrooms?
We appreciate that many businesses are facing increased pressure to reduce cost. That’s why we offer a wide range of products and a flexible service – to meet all needs and budgets. Please speak to us for tailored advice on how to ensure your business remains fully compliant while working within a budget.
What is the Duty of Care legislation?
The Duty of Care Act 1991 requires that sanitary waste is managed to a point of disposal. Waste must be removed by a licensed waste carrier and a full audit trail of documentation must be available at all times. Failure to comply with the legislation may lead to a hefty fine.
We are licensed by the Environment Agency to collect waste and our service fulfils all the guidelines.
Tampons and sanitary towels can be flushed down the toilet can’t they?
There is no such thing as a soluble towel or tampon. Flushing sanitary items down the toilet pollutes rivers and coastlines and can result in blocked drains. The Duty of Care Act means you should provide a sanitary disposal unit, even if you have only one female employee.
How do we determine the volume of washroom equipment required?
We are more than happy to advise you on your legal requirements as well as the facilities we believe will suit your business needs. We review requirements on a regular basis with all our customers to reflect any increases or decreases that may occur.
What legal obligations am I under with regard to washroom facilities for staff?
Providing the right number of toilets and washbasins not only shows due care and attention to your staff, it’s also a legal obligation. Here’s the Health and Safety Executive’s quick guide to staff/toilet ratios.
The relevant legislation is the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Regulation 20, Sanitary conveniences, states:
- Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences shall be provided at readily accessible places.
- Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), sanitary conveniences shall not be suitable unless –
- the rooms containing them are adequately ventilated and lit;
- they and the rooms containing them are kept in a clean and orderly condition; and
- separate rooms containing conveniences are provided for men and women except where and so far as each convenience is in a separate room the door of which is capable of being secured from inside.
The Approved code of practice goes on to give minimum numbers of facilities:
(The number of people at work shown in column 1 refers to the maximum number likely to be in the workplace at any one time)
Number of toilets and washbasins for mixed use (or women only):
| Number of people at work | Number of toilets | Number of washbasins |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 1 | 1 |
| 6-25 | 2 | 2 |
| 26-50 | 3 | 3 |
| 51-75 | 4 | 4 |
| 76-100 | 5 | 5 |
Toilets used by men only:
| Number of men at work | Number of toilets | Number of urinals |
|---|---|---|
| 1-15 | 1 | 1 |
| 16-30 | 2 | 1 |
| 31-45 | 2 | 2 |
| 46-60 | 3 | 2 |
| 61-75 | 3 | 3 |
| 76-90 | 4 | 3 |
| 91-100 | 4 | 4 |
We are looking at ways to reduce cost, can you help us spend less on our washrooms?
We appreciate that many businesses are facing increased pressure to reduce cost. That’s why we offer a wide range of products and a flexible service – to meet all needs and budgets. Please speak to us for tailored advice on how to ensure your business remains fully compliant while working within a budget.