If you want to learn everything there is to know about welfare unit hire, you’re in the right place! This is our eco-friendly welfare units guide, where we will give you the rundown on everything you need to know about welfare unit hire so you can make an informed decision.
At Welfare Unit Hire Ltd, our team has been delivering welfare units for hire in the North West for over 15 years. With all of this expertise behind us, we can’t wait to share what we know so you can have a positive hiring experience.
What is a welfare unit?
A welfare unit is a self-contained building that provides a safe and legally compliant workspace for remote, temporary, and off-grid workers. Welfare units can be mobile and portable or static and stationary.
Welfare units are fitted with all the facilities employers need to offer their staff a comfortable and safe place to work and take breaks.
What facilities are included in a welfare unit?
Welfare units must comply with certain legal requirements, including The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
Here is a list of essential facilities and a few optional extras that you can expect to find within a standard welfare unit:
Toilets and washing facilities (essential)
- Toilets must be conveniently located for workers and kept clean and well-maintained.
- Washing facilities must be close to the toilets and include hot and cold running water. Soap and paper towels or hand dryers must also be provided.
Drinking water facilities (essential)
- Drinking water must be fresh, accessible, and safe to drink (potable).
Rest area (essential)
- Seating must have a backing for comfort.
- Tables need to be large enough to support eating and resting.
- The area must be dry, clean, heated, and insulated for weather protection.
- There must be a way to heat food, like a microwave.
- There must be a way to boil water, like a kettle.
- Secure storage must be provided for food and drinks.
Changing and drying areas (essential)
- There must be space for workers to change from personal clothing into work clothing.
- Heating and ventilation must be present within the area.
- Facilities for drying wet clothing and/or PPE must be provided.
Safety features (essential)
- Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted with updated testing certificates.
- A first aid kit must be readily available in the event of emergencies.
The list above covers everything a welfare unit should legally house to be deemed as a safe and comfortable working environment. Some optional facilities and extras include:
- Office spaces
- Fitness areas
- Sleeper units
- TV and/or radio
- Wi-Fi
- Mobile charging points
- Noticeboards
- Air conditioning
- Showers
- Fridge/freezers
- Toasters
What is an eco-friendly welfare unit?
Eco-friendly welfare units still provide all of the same facilities for employees but are more sustainable in their operations. Typically, welfare units run on generators for electricity, whereas eco-friendly welfare units use renewable energy sources such as solar panels, battery storage, or a solar-hybrid approach to minimise the use of harmful fossil fuels.
Eco-friendly welfare units also utilise sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems focusing on sustainable practices like reducing waste and saving energy.
Sustainability is key nowadays. More and more employers are being encouraged to reduce their environmental impact wherever possible, and an eco-friendly welfare unit aims to do just this.
What are the features of an eco-friendly welfare unit?
Eco-specification welfare units are specifically designed to minimise harmful environmental impact wherever possible. Naturally, all eco-friendly welfare units differ from one another, but these are just a few of the common features you can expect:
Renewable energy sources
Why? To keep running costs to a minimum and limit harmful emissions by reducing diesel consumption.
How?
- Solar panels: A sustainable way to generate the electricity needed for lighting, heating, and electricity.
- Wind turbines: A useful way to generate power on windy worksites.
- Battery storage: An efficient way to store excess renewable energy and use it at a later time.
- Hybrid power: A popular way to benefit from the sustainability of renewable energy sources and the reliability of low-emission generators simultaneously.
Energy-efficient features
Why? To provide a comfortable working and rest environment while reducing power consumption.
How?
- LED lights: Uses less energy than incandescent and halogen bulbs.
- Low-power appliances: Such as heating panels, hobs, microwaves, kettles, and water heating systems.
- High-quality insulation: Reduces the need for heating and conserves energy.
- Inverter timer plug sockets: Turns on and off at specific times to save energy.
- Automatic generator shut-off (for solar-hybrid power welfare units): An automatic transfer switch to prevent renewable energy wastage.
- Sustainable design: Compact and portable design to reduce the need for repairs and replacements. This also reduces environmental impact during transportation and delivery.
Efficient water and waste management
Why? To manage waste sustainably and lower water consumption where possible.
How?
- Soluble toilet paper and paper towels: To prevent blockages and support efficient waste management practices.
- Low-flow fixtures: Reduces water wastage in toilets and sink basins.
- High-capacity tanks: Reduces the need for changes and adds convenience.
Why would someone hire a welfare unit?
Employers hire welfare units because they must, by law, provide basic welfare provisions and facilities (at minimum) for their staff while they are working. This will ensure they stay compliant with UK health and safety regulations.
With this in mind, welfare unit hire is a popular option, especially for businesses with remote and temporary worksites. We’ll go into more detailed examples in just a moment.
In addition to staying compliant, hiring a welfare unit is also seen as a very cost-effective solution compared to buying a permanent building. Plus, a permanent structure isn’t always an option for employees who work on multiple projects across multiple job sites.
Which professions would benefit from welfare unit hire?
Welfare unit hire is a worthwhile option for many professionals — especially those who work outdoors, remotely, or with no set base. Workers in these industries often work on-site for extended periods of time, and a welfare unit provides the space and facilities required for work, rest breaks, and personal hygiene.
Here are just a few examples of the key industries that benefit from welfare unit hire:
- Road maintenance: Traffic management teams, road workers, and line marking crews.
- Rail and infrastructure: Track maintenance workers, engineers, and technicians.
- Construction: Site managers, surveyors, engineers, and groundworkers.
- Event and festival management: Organisers, security, and medical staff.
- Agriculture: Farmers, forestry workers, landscapers, and gardeners.
- Utility and maintenance: Drainage contractors, telecom engineers, electricians, plumbers, and gas engineers.
- Environmental: Field researchers, scientists, conservation workers, archaeologists, and ecologists.
- Film and TV: Cast, production crew, catering staff, and security teams.
- Emergency response: Medical teams, crisis managers, and rescue teams.
What are the benefits of hiring an eco-friendly welfare unit?
Many businesses hire welfare units with eco-specification as they provide all of the essential facilities and appliances while championing sustainability.
Environmental
Eco-friendly welfare units use renewable energy sources or a hybrid approach to reduce fuel consumption and harmful CO₂ emissions. This benefits many businesses as it means they can meet corporate sustainability targets and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
Financial
As eco-friendly welfare units use solar-powered systems or a combination of generator power with solar power, businesses can benefit from lower fuel consumption, which directly translates to lower running costs. In fact, our units are 75% cheaper to run than a conventional generator-powered welfare unit.
Businesses can also benefit from a safe and HSE-compliant work and rest space for employees without purchasing up-front, freeing up cash.
Legal
At Welfare Unit Hire Ltd, all of our units are HSE-compliant for our customers’ peace of mind. They also have VCA Type Approval under Directive 2007/46/EC, which confirms they are safe to tow, roadworthy, and meet official UK regulations for mobile structures.
We also provide in-house maintenance, repair, and toilet cleaning services so employers can guarantee employees a clean and comfortable space.
Convenience
Hiring a welfare unit means businesses can use the unit for the duration of a project and return it afterwards. Many welfare unit hire rental agreements — like our own — also include maintenance and repair services, helping businesses comply with health and safety regulations.
Flexibility
Welfare units are designed to be easily portable and can be set up in any remote or off-grid location. This is extremely handy for businesses operating without a permanent work base and frequently require travel from site to site. With a self-sufficient welfare unit hire, maintaining a productive and safe workspace is much easier.
Enquire today for welfare unit hire in the North West
Take a look at our welfare units for hire — they all come with an eco specification to help you meet sustainability goals while staying kind to the planet. Our products include everything from mobile tool stores and 4- to 6-person welfare units to 12-person units with an office.
If you’d like to learn more about eco-friendly welfare unit hire, don’t hesitate to contact our helpful team and make an enquiry.
