Why Water Matters For Construction Workers

• Content
• Building, Refurbishment & Fit-Out
• Why Water Matters For Construction Workers

03 October 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

A new publication has been launched by the British Water Cooler Association which focuses on keeping construction teams well hydrated in line with your duties under the CDM Regulations.

Construction workers wearing hot, protective clothing are vulnerable to dehydration – even as the weather cools. As part of a series of hydration fact sheets called Why Water Matters... The BWCA has just published ‘Why Water Matters for Construction Workers’, reminding businesses that, by law, they must provide healthy hydration in the workplace.  

Dehydration can affect concentration and impair performance. On a busy construction site, this may lead to mistakes and accidents that should be avoidable.

The new fact sheet describes the best means of providing on-site hydration and gives useful advice on using and choosing a water cooler.

Supplying essential refreshments to workers on-site can often best be done by using water coolers. On sites not yet connected to the mains – for example on major new build or infrastructure projects - bottled water coolers can be the only means of supplying potable water in an economical and convenient way. 

Phillipa Atkinson-Clow, BWCA General Manager, said: “Coolers and bottles must be kept clean and bottles of water stored correctly. Make sure you deal with a British Water Cooler Association accredited member,, who must adhere to the stringent BWCA hygiene guidelines for the peace of mind that brings”.

Atkinson-Clow added: “Staff are a key resource so it’s important to keep them hydrated, alert, efficient and happy. With this in place, business is likely to thrive and something as simple as a water cooler can make a big contribution to the health and well-being of staff”.

A quick visual guide on checking whether you are correctly hydrated is available and. as this is a colour-coded chart, the guide is useful even for those for whom English is not a first language.

For the Fact Sheet Click Here

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 03 October 2017

Share

Related Articles