• Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    It’s a workplace safety requirement in the Netherlands: https://www.arboportaal.nl/onderwerpen/inrichting-werkvloer/speciale-ruimten (In dutch, but translations work fine).

    It needs to fit the people using it, needs tables and chairs so that everyone can sit, needs to be heated and ventilated and it can’t be too dark, dusty, noisy or dirty.

    For construction work, they commonly use a construction trailer like this (wikimedia pic), or something a bit more permanent. If the entire job is less than 3 days, employees may be asked to eat lunch in their work van. That’s the entire job, not “2 days here, 2 days next door, 2 days one door over”, or “2 days for you specifically”. A bathroom must still be provided even if it’s a short job.

    EDIT: I do workplace safety for a living. I wouldn’t say I’ve worked for every field ever, but I’m reasonably sure I could give a few examples if you have questions.

    • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
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      2 days ago

      That’s really great. Had someone respond mentioning something similar is in place in Sweden.

      My main question was how that works for trucking and field service work (plumbers, home inspectors, etc). Understandable if you don’t have the exact information. It was interesting enough to see it required generally, because we don’t even have that in the US (I checked Canada and the UK too).

      • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        For truckdrivers (and similar) there’s an exception that the cabin of the truck can be used as breakroom. It has to meet the same requirements though. Truckdrivers also can’t drive for more than 9 hours a day and 56 hours a week, and need a 45 minute break after 4,5 hours of driving. Generally, that mixes quite nicely with needing a place to sit and eat and go to the bathroom, since if you’re already required to not-drive, you might as well get out of the seat and eat something.

        For people coming to a house, they generally fall under the “less than 3 days” rule, so they can either eat in their van, or (if they’re at a normal, decent person’s house) at the house. In practice, that probably doesn’t happen, and they eat while driving from job A to job B, which is technically not allowed, but nobody can actually check that. The employer is STILL required to provide a toilet though, which occasionally leads to hilarious clauses that require you (as a homeowner) to make your bathroom available to the painter/electrician/whatever, because that’s the easiest way for the company to guarantee a toilet is available.