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Indicator 3.5.16
Requirement
The UoC shall provide access to appropriate sanitary facilities that: a) are clean and hygienic; and b) include adequate privacy measures; and c) include separation by gender if required; and d) are sufficient for the number of people using them.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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Sanitary facilities:
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are clean
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are dry
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are warm
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have a source of ventilation (e.g. a window or fan)
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have adequate lighting
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have doors that close and lock for privacy.
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Facilities include one of the following:
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pit latrines
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flush toilets
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urinals.
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Taps and running water are also available.
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For women, facilities for safe disposal of sanitary products are provided.
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Facilities are constructed of hard materials that are easy to clean.
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Waste and wastewater are regularly disposed of in accordance with Criterion 2.11: Material Use, Waste and Pollution Control.
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They are separated by gender, where required.
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Evidence of Implementation
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presence of clean and appropriate sanitary facilities that are accessible to all employees
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records of cleaning services.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees report that sanitary facilities are appropriate and they are able to access them without issue;
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it is clear who has the responsibility for cleaning the facilities and that this happens on a regular basis.
Indicator 3.5.15
Requirement
The UoC shall ensure that any person who handles or comes into contact with hazardous substances has access to appropriate changing and washing facilities.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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Hazardous substances that are often used in aquaculture can include:
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disinfectants as part of biosecurity protocols
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herbicides and pesticides used in pond maintenance
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spawning aids
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vaccines used in disease prevention
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marking agents used in resource management.
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Contact with some substances can be harmful to employees and can cause ill health or injury, but this is preventable through:
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the correct use of PPE
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providing changing and washing facilities, including soap, for:
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washing hands or skin that has come into contact with hazardous substances
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washing out eyes
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changing out of clothes that have come into contact with hazardous substances.
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Evidence of Implementation
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availability of changing and washing facilities in easily accessible places.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees understand the risk of working with different hazardous substances;
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employees are aware of the correct procedures to handle hazardous substances;
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employees understand what to do if they come into contact with hazardous substances.
Useful Resources
Indicator 3.5.14
Requirement
The UoC shall, where not provided by a state or national social security or health system, provide and pay for insurance or have a system to cover costs for all employees for all work-related accidents or injuries. This shall include at least the following: a) the cost for transport and medical treatment and medication needed to treat the accident or injury; and b) the cost for transport and medical treatment and medication needed for recovery; and c) compensation for lost working hours; and d) cost for any required repatriation in case of migrant workers.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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The UoC is responsible for caring for its employees and protecting them from any financial impacts of an accident or injury.
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The UoC should ensure that employees are protected from unfair dismissal if they are unable to work for long periods.
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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.
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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.
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If this incident took place in Country A, where there is a social security and healthcare system, the site manager does not charge the employee for the painkillers from the first aid kit, or the transport to the hospital. The UoC does not have to pay any hospital bill because the national health system pays for that. The UoC does not have to pay any of the employee’s salary for the 3 weeks that he is off work because that is covered by the national social security system.
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If this incident took place in Country B, where there is no social security and healthcare system, the UoC pays all of the costs, as outlined above.
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Evidence of Implementation
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information about what is provided by the national government
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documentation showing how the site will cover or pay for any costs that are not covered by the national government, for example, insurance documents.
Auditors Should Confirm
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the UoC has the right plans in place for paying costs of workplace injuries;
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management understands their role and responsibility in covering these costs;
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employees understand what happens financially if they have a workplace injury.
Indicator 3.5.13
Requirement
The UoC shall provide appropriate first aid in the event of a work-related injury, including access to professional medical assistance.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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The supplies needed for first aid at the UoC can be determined by the health and safety risk assessment.
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Professional medical assistance can include ensuring that the UoC is able to access doctors and an ambulance, where necessary.
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The following list of first aid kit supplies is adapted from the UK government Health and Safety Executive website:
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general guidance on first aid (an example from the UK government Health and Safety Executive can be found here: <https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg347.pdf>)
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individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes
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sterile eye pads/eye wash
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individually-wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
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safety pins
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large and medium-sized sterile, individually-wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
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disposable gloves
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scissors or cutting tool.
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First aid kits are:
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checked regularly, to ensure that any items that are past their expiry date are safely disposed of and replaced
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kept at several locations around the site
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easily accessible
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located near potential hazards or areas of risk.
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Evidence of Implementation
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complete and well maintained first aid kits in easily accessible locations
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information about what the first aid kits contain and how to use them.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees know where the first aid kits are kept and how to use them;
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the UoC has a process in place to ensure first aid kits remain fully stocked and serviceable.
Useful Resources
Indicator 3.5.12
Requirement
The UoC shall provide and maintain appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) free of charge and monitor its proper use.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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The UoC assesses:
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what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed (meeting legal stipulations if applicable)
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for which functions it is needed
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in which situations it should be used
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how PPE is well maintained.
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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:
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Elimination: Physically remove the hazard
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Substitution: Replace the hazard with a non-hazardous process
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Engineering controls: Isolate people from the hazard
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Administrative controls: Change the way people work
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PPE: Protect the worker with PPE.
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PPE often comes with manufacturers’ instructions, which explain how to maintain equipment, and when equipment needs replacing.
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Providing appropriate storage for the PPE, where it is protected from adverse weather conditions, will prolong the life and useability of the PPE.
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Training for employees on the correct use of PPE is necessary for ensuring that PPE is used effectively.
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When new PPE is introduced, or the method of using it changes, updated training helps to ensure the safety of all employees.
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The list below is adapted from the EU’s Compliance Help Centre. PPE can include:
Type of PPE Use
Head protection (helmets, hard hats) When working in construction, work around heavy machinery, while working in a workplace with low-hanging objects, piping, moving parts.
Hand protection (gloves, wrist cuffs) When working in hot or cold environments, with chemical or hazardous materials, when using abrasive or sharp objects.
Eye and face protection (safety glasses, goggles, eye and face shields, visors) When working with power driven tools, welding tools, when handling hazardous substance.
Respiratory protection (breathing apparatus, mask respirators, disposable face masks, protective hoods) When working in workplaces with high levels of dust, or when in contact with gases, powders and vapours.
Hearing protection (earplugs, ear defenders, noise meters) When working in an environment with high noise levels.
Foot protection (safety boots and shoes) When working around various hazards, hot and cold environments, when handling heavy objects.
Body protection (high-visibility clothing, harnesses, clothing for specific weather conditions, life jackets) When there are vehicles, when doing maintenance work on machinery, when working outdoors, in extreme temperatures, for protection against chemical contamination, for protection against drowning.
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Employees need somewhere for PPE with:
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adequate privacy to change into the PPE
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somewhere to store their belongings
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a designated place to store or return (e.g. laundry) the PPE after use.
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Evidence of Implementation
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a record of available PPE, what it is used for and how it is maintained
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health and safety risk assessment demonstrating when PPE is needed.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees are using PPE correctly and consistently;
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the PPE is well maintained and in good working condition;
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employees understand the reasoning behind the use of PPE and why it is important.
Indicator 3.5.11
Requirement
The UoC shall ensure that escape routes, fire exits and firefighting equipment are accessible and clear of obstacles.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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The UoC is responsible for:
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removing any obstacles around escape routes and fire exits
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ensuring that emergency doors are not locked
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ensuring that emergency equipment is not blocked by any obstacles.
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Evidence of Implementation
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information about locations of emergency equipment.
Auditors Should Confirm
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escape routes, fire exits and firefighting equipment are accessible
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employees understand where exits and equipment are located.
Indicator 3.5.10
Requirement
The UoC shall ensure that escape routes, fire exits, firefighting equipment and fire alarms are clearly marked and maintained in good working order.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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Fire safety and other emergency measures are in place, for example:
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fire alarms
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marked fire exits
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marked, well-lit and well-maintained emergency escape routes
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assembly points
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firefighting equipment that is maintained annually or as required.
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Fire drills are conducted regularly to ensure that employees understand the emergency procedures.
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Evidence of Implementation
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documented fire and emergency safety procedures
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list of equipment and information about maintenance schedules
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list of hazardous items
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relevant signs around the workplace.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees have taken part in a drill;
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employees understand what to do in case of a fire or other emergency;
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equipment is up-to-date and in good working order.
Indicator 3.5.9
Requirement
The UoC shall ensure that clear and understandable emergency and fire safety procedures are in place. **
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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The UoC should have procedures in place for emergencies that can have a significant impact on people on the site, including:
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serious injuries
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fire
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explosion
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flood
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poisoning
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electrocution
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hazardous chemical spill.
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Emergency procedures can include:
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outlining what might happen and how to raise an alarm
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what to do if an alarm goes off
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a plan showing the location of hazardous items
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a plan for emergency shutdown, isolation or making processes safe
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how to call the emergency services
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where the escape routes are located
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where the assembly points are
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what the responsibility is of each employee and the management.
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Drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that employees understand the emergency procedures.
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Evidence of Implementation
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documented fire and emergency safety procedures
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list of equipment and information about maintenance schedules
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list of hazardous items
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relevant signs around the workplace.
Auditors Should Confirm
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employees have taken part in a drill;
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employees understand what to do in case of a fire or other emergency;
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equipment is up-to-date and in good working order.
Useful Resources
<https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplace-health/emergency-procedures.htm>
Indicator 3.5.8
Requirement
The UoC shall ensure that appropriate and understandable health and safety notices, instructions, and warning signs are visibly displayed.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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Potential hazards and risk areas around the site are clearly identified by warning signs.
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The choice of signs, notices and instructions are informed by the health and safety risk assessment.
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Written safety instructions for equipment use are accessible to all employees who need to use that equipment and are in a language that employees understand.
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Written safety procedures are available to employees and:
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include details on:
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accident prevention and response
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emergency procedures
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are in a language that they understand
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can include pictures or diagrams, which can be helpful.
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Evidence of Implementation
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warning signs around the site
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written safety instructions and procedures that are accessible for employees.
Auditors Should Confirm
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warning signs are clearly visible and potential hazards are clearly marked;
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employees understand where they can access safety instructions and procedures;
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employees understand what the warning signs mean and what they refer to.
Indicator 3.5.7
Requirement
The UoC shall report to ASC any accidents, according to ASC data submission procedures.
How Do I Interpret This Requirement?
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This is a reporting requirement, not a disclosure requirement, which means that all data is held confidentially by ASC, who does not share it publicly.
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Companies should never publicly share personal employee data.
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The information collected through this reporting requirements will enable ASC to:
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gain insights into common incidents and accidents and health and safety risks, which will inform the future development of ASC’s health and safety requirements
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foster open discussions about health and safety risks and how to prevent them.
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Evidence of Implementation
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confirmation of data uploaded to MyASC.
Auditors Should Confirm
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that data uploaded to MyASC is consistent with results of the wage gap analysis.
