The provision of a clean area to prepare food is important for employees’ health and for reducing the risk of illness.

In warm climates, there should be adequate shade for employees to have their breaks in.

available place to prepare food and eat.

employees are able to prepare food and eat in a clean and hygienic space.

Access to drinking water is essential for employees’ health and the UoC is responsible for ensuring that:

available drinking water stations around the site.

employees understand that they are free to access drinking water and they know where they can find it.

Sanitary facilities:

Facilities include one of the following:

presence of clean and appropriate sanitary facilities that are accessible to all employees

records of cleaning services.

employees report that sanitary facilities are appropriate and they are able to access them without issue;

it is clear who has the responsibility for cleaning the facilities and that this happens on a regular basis.

Hazardous substances that are often used in aquaculture can include:

Contact with some substances can be harmful to employees and can cause ill health or injury, but this is preventable through:

availability of changing and washing facilities in easily accessible places.

employees understand the risk of working with different hazardous substances;

employees are aware of the correct procedures to handle hazardous substances;

employees understand what to do if they come into contact with hazardous substances.

<https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf>

Guide to Using Drugs and Biologics in Aquaculture (syndel.com)

The UoC is responsible for caring for its employees and protecting them from any financial impacts of an accident or injury.

The UoC should ensure that employees are protected from unfair dismissal if they are unable to work for long periods.

Depending on the level of the national social security of the country where the site is located, there are likely to be different costs that the UoC is responsible for.

For example: an employee injures his back lifting boxes of feed from a truck. He suffers an acute injury, falls down and struggles to stand. The site manager provides him with some painkillers from the first aid kit and takes him in a site vehicle to the nearest hospital. The employee receives some x-rays and is diagnosed as having strained his back and is given pain relief and told he cannot work for 3 weeks. The site manager does not charge the employee for the painkillers from the first aid kit, or the transport to the hospital. The UoC pays the full hospital bill and continues paying the employee’s salary for the 3 weeks that he is off work.

information about what is provided by the national government

documentation showing how the site will cover or pay for any costs that are not covered by the national government, for example, insurance documents.

the UoC has the right plans in place for paying costs of workplace injuries;

management understands their role and responsibility in covering these costs;

employees understand what happens financially if they have a workplace injury.

The supplies needed for first aid at the UoC can be determined by the health and safety risk assessment.

Professional medical assistance can include ensuring that the UoC is able to access doctors and an ambulance, where necessary.

The following list of first aid kit supplies is adapted from the UK government Health and Safety Executive website:

First aid kits are:

complete and well maintained first aid kits in easily accessible locations

information about what the first aid kits contain and how to use them.

employees know where the first aid kits are kept and how to use them;

the UoC has a process in place to ensure first aid kits remain fully stocked and serviceable.

<https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/firstaid/what-to-put-in-your-first-aid-kit.htm>

The UoC assesses:

The use of PPE should be the final option in protecting employees from hazards and the steps below are what comes before the use of PPE:

The list below is adapted from the EU’s Compliance Help Centre. PPE can include:

Employees need somewhere for PPE with:

a record of available PPE, what it is used for and how it is maintained

health and safety risk assessment demonstrating when PPE is needed.

employees are using PPE correctly and consistently;

the PPE is well maintained and in good working condition;

employees understand the reasoning behind the use of PPE and why it is important.

The UoC is responsible for:

information about locations of emergency equipment.

escape routes, fire exits and firefighting equipment are accessible

employees understand where exits and equipment are located.

Fire safety and other emergency measures are in place, for example:

documented fire and emergency safety procedures

list of equipment and information about maintenance schedules

list of hazardous items

relevant signs around the workplace.

employees have taken part in a drill;

employees understand what to do in case of a fire or other emergency;

equipment is up-to-date and in good working order.

The UoC should have procedures in place for emergencies that can have a significant impact on people on the site, including:

Emergency procedures can include:

documented fire and emergency safety procedures

list of equipment and information about maintenance schedules

list of hazardous items

relevant signs around the workplace.

employees have taken part in a drill;

employees understand what to do in case of a fire or other emergency;

equipment is up-to-date and in good working order.