A-PLANT OFFERS WIDEST RANGE OF WELFARE UNITS FOR SITE REGULATIONS

To help building and construction companies to comply with the requirements of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, A-Plant Accommodation is now offering the widest range of Health & Safety Executive (HSE)-compliant site welfare units for hire on the market. According to A-Plant, lack of adequate welfare facilities may lead to the shutting down of a site by the HSE. The 1996 Regulations require that construction site workers are given adequate toilet and washing facilities, a place to warm up and eat their food and somewhere to store clothing. The HSE has issued two information sheets on this area, Number 18 covering provision of welfare facilities at fixed construction sites and Number 46 covering the needs of transient construction sites. To help site managers to meet these provisions, A-Plant now has a range of three welfare units for hire that provide three different solutions for providing the facilities required by the Regulations, depending on the type of site involved. Suitable for use on any site that is remote or lacking mains services, the A-Plant range of welfare units are also ideal for rail, cabling, telecommunication and utility projects. Complementing the top-of-the-range 24 ft x 9 ft welfare unit, the company has now added a smaller static 20 ft x 9 ft unit and a portable welfare unit that can be towed behind a vehicle. Whilst it is compact and easy to maintain, the new portable welfare unit features an on-board 5.8 kVA generator for added security. Conventional units with standalone generators are prone to theft and need to be disconnected and stored overnight. Taking the unit to and from site is a one-man operation that requires just two minutes to raise and lower the unit via its in-built hydraulic jacking system. Inside the new portable unit is a surprisingly large sink, a base unit, a worktop, table and bench type seating with underside storage. The unit is supplied with a microwave and kettle with clean drinking water available from the sink tap. At the back of the unit is a recirculating toilet and a recirculating wash hand basin (30 gallons). As well as offering integral power for heating and lighting, the new portable welfare unit is an Anti-Vandal steel security unit, with all personnel doors featuring double five-lever locking systems and anti-jemmy capability. In addition, the windows are protected by lockable steel shutters. Dependable security is also a feature of the new 20 ft x 9 ft welfare unit from A-Plant which features an open plan design allowing A-Plant to adapt the unit as a site office, drying room or canteen, depending on customer requirements. The integral 15 kVA silent-running diesel-driven generator is sufficiently sized to power all the internal heaters, lights and power points as well as provide auxiliary power externally. The generator is housed in a separate section with its own doors and fully exhausted through special ducting; it is also covered by a scheduled maintenance contract and a 24-hour emergency callout service. The third top-of-the-range welfare unit from A-Plant is also generator-powered and offers a mess area incorporating a kitchenette with an electric cooker, kettle, worktop and inset sink bowl. The kitchenette has its own clean water supply for both hot and cold water and a waste water collector to remove grey water. The mess area also includes benching and seating as standard. Unlike the mid-range unit, the larger system has a separate secure store for small tools and valuable consumables. All three units have a chemical toilet, which is serviced on a weekly basis when it is emptied, cleaned and all consumables such as soap and toilet paper are fully replenished. A-Plant Accommodation is part of A-Plant Specialist Equipment, providing a comprehensive choice of accommodation units in the UK, with a fleet holding in excess of 10,000 units. Specialising in the hire of Modular Buildings, Jackleg Units, Fire-rated Units, Mobiles and Anti-Vandal Offices, Security Stores, Serviceloos and Event Hire, A-Plant Accommodation is able to serve and solve the needs of both the construction and industrial markets.