Shelters, housing and nutrition

• Pages: 42-43

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10. Shelters, housing and nutrition

Shelters and housing

224. Shelters should be made available for protection from inclement weather

and for spending breaks, taking meals and drying and storing clothing, at or within

easy access of the worksite.

225. If the climatic conditions require, shelters should be equipped with

facilities for heating and warming food. As far as practicable, shelters should also

provide facilities for washing. This is particularly important where workers are

using chemical substances.

226. Where remote worksites require workers to live in camps, these should

be situated so as to avoid flooding or other natural hazards; suitable

accommodation with an adequate level of comfort and sanitation should be

provided.

227. Camps should have the following:

(a) dormitories, in which the number of people should not exceed six, to allow

workers a minimum of privacy;

(b) lockers for keeping personal belongings;

(c) canteen;

(d) kitchen;

(e) food store;

(f) sufficient supply of clean water;

(g) sanitary facilities (washrooms, showers, toilets or latrines), separated from

sleeping and dining areas and from kitchen facilities and storage areas for

food, complying with hygienic requirements, and equipped in accordance with

the cultural environment of the workers;

(h) facilities for washing and drying clothes;

(i) general material store;

(j) separate stores for any inflammable, chemical or explosive substances at a

safe distance from the living quarters;

(k) recreational facilities;

(l) means of control of rodents and harmful insects.

Nutrition and drinking water

228. When food is provided by employers, they should ensure that the energy

intake is sufficient for the performance of heavy physical work and that the diet is

composed of a good balance of carbohydrates, fats and animal protein. Particularly

in developing countries it should be recognized that inadequate or insufficient

nutrition may result in health problems and a lack of productivity.

229. Bearing in mind that dehydration quickly reduces physical and mental

ability, thus reducing productivity and increasing the risk of accidents, sufficient