Unisex toilets at work - Northern Ireland

[BelfastBlether]

NC for this.

Work is turning all the toilets "unisex" in my building. Not happy about this for all the reasons discussed on FWR ad nauseam.

Currently we have I think eight(?) sets of loos in the building, four for women and four for men, each with basins and about 4 cubicles, for the use of several hundred people. I'm not sure if the gents have urinals as well. I believe that the idea is to put floor-to-ceiling doors on the cubicles and to make each set of toilets open to all. The basins I think would not be enclosed, and would remain in the shared areas (now to become unisex).

I have several TW and NB colleagues, and to my knowledge there have been no issues with them using the facilities of their choice. At one point I believe the idea was to adapt some of the existing facilities into unisex provision, to which again no-one objected. Now the employer seems to have decided it would be simpler to get rid of single-sex provision entirely.

I have very heavy periods and am not looking forward to doing my monthly serial-killer-style clean up of bloodied hands, underwear, tights, etc. in the basin in front of male colleagues (yes, they are excessively heavy; no, my doctor isn't helpful). But my concern isn't primarily about myself and my needs; it's about all the women in the building, and our many reasons for needing single-sex facilities (safety, privacy, trauma, religious faith etc.).

Does anyone have any info about the legality of the employer's plans? I am in Northern Ireland and the relevant regulation comes from the Health and Safety Executive. As NI is a small place, I don't want to give too many more specifics about the employer or workplace. In a leaflet on "welfare provision" (loos), the HSE say employers should provide "where possible, separate facilities for men and women - failing that, rooms with lockable doors". I'm not sure of the meaning of "rooms" in this context, or where the basins have to be. I'm also not sure of the exact meaning here of "where possible". Clearly it would be "possible" for my employer to provide separate facilities since that's the existing arrangement, but I'm not sure if the HSE would consider that actionable.

Any advice from you brilliant women would be much appreciated!

Shit. So sorry to hear this OP. Offering Unisex toilets is fine. Offering only unisex toilets is not fine. Everyone should have the choice about whether they use unisex toilets or single sex toilets. It’s not acceptable that this is forced on staff. I’m sorry I have no idea about guidance or legislation but I’m angry for you and hope this can be successfully challenged.

What's their justification beyond 'simpler'?

What's their justification beyond 'simpler'?

So far, no justification provided. Just "we're doing this". I haven't asked for more details yet because I want to understand the regulatory landscape first.

I suspect when I do ask, the answer will be "inclusiveness". I've got no problem explaining why this isn't inclusive (risks to women, privacy for people with disabilities, religious needs), but I'd like to know if the HSE is on my side too.

I'm not 100% sure if it's the same in N Ireland, (I presume it would be) but the H&S regulations in the UK mean that unisex toilets need to be fully enclosed - sink/basin must be in the cubicle with the women.

'sanitary conveniences shall not be suitable unless -

the rooms containing them are adequately ventilated and lit;
they and the rooms containing them are kept in a clean and orderly condition; and
separate rooms containing conveniences are provided for men and women except where and so far as each convenience is in a separate room the door of which is capable of being secured from inside.'

www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/toilets.htm

Sorry, 'in the cubicle with the toilet', not women!

Here are the relevant NI regs:

www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1993/37/regulation/20/made

Can you ask to see their risk assessment for it? They need to assess the impact on women. Many out of the several hundred staff will have experience sexual abuse or harassment at the hands of men.

They need toilets with the basin inside the cubicle, for women to wash out mooncups and people of both sexes to clean their hands, etc. if they have any medical condition which requires it.

Thanks all for the solidarity and fab advice!

Thanks a million YourSex for the legislation links. The text seems a bit vague in Northern Ireland on the basins question. Regulation 20 (sanitary conveniences) doesn't specify enclosed sinks/basins and Regulation 21 says handwashing facilities do not need to be single sex.

But if I can't absolutely rely on the regulations, I will anyway certainly make the point Jeanne that basins need to be in the cubicles for the reasons you mention.

Asking for a risk assessment Uhtred is a brilliant idea.

I'll let you know if I get anywhere...

Can you ask to see their risk assessment for it?

And their EDI assessment.

For all protected characteristics, not just gender reassignment. The EA2020 says (somewhere, but I've forgotten which bit of it) that there is no hierarchy of protected characteristics.

So gender reassignment does not trump sex, does not trump religion etc etc etc.

Page 37 and 38 and 39 of this document www.hseni.gov.uk/sites/hseni.gov.uk/files/publications/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/l24-workplace-health-safety-and-welfare.pdf

I'm hearing it's building regs ... as much as H&S

I've had a look and can't find the non-domestic regs for NI - I would try and find that and have a look in the bit about sanitary provision. The following I've found seems more for domestic dwellings. Lots of detail on wheelchair use accessibility (which is usually called unisex) but I'm not seeing anything in here regards non-accessible unisex toilets:

www.buildingcontrol-ni.com/regulations/technical-booklets

It is an approved code of practice

“ Approved Code of Practice
This Code has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive, with the consent of the Secretary of State. It gives practical advice on how to comply with the law. If you follow the advice you will be doing enough to comply with the law in respect of those specific matters on which the Code gives advice. You may use alternative methods to those set out in the Code in order to comply with the law.
However, the Code has a special legal status. If you are prosecuted for breach of health and safety law, and it is proved that you did not follow the relevant provisions of the Code, you will need to show that you have complied with the law in some other way or a Court will find you at fault.”

If the sinks are outside the cubicle it will be interesting to read on their Equality Assessment how they will enable Muslim women who cover arms and legs from men, to wash said arms and legs before prayer.

Maybe you could identify as Muslim and use that approach?

Also from NI so watching with interest.

I'm from NI too and watching this. My employer is large and I'm concerned they may go down this route so this is really helpful.

How awful for you! I couldn't deal with this at all.

They are finding more and more ways to humiliate women.

The facilities that are referred to include WAH hand basins. If the facility is meant for mixed sex then they must include a wash hand basin within the facility behind a locked door

The 2(h) is very, very clear. Your employer must provide toilet and wash hand basin within the same lockable room if the facility is being used by both sexes.

The only time

Thank you for this thread. Also NI based with a new building in the works. I hadn’t considered this but it sounds like something my employer would be keen to implement without any thought!

Floor-to-ceiling doors are dangerous for epileptics (disabled) and anyone else who may fall ill behind toilet doors. I have rescued a young woman in ‘the ladies’ by seeing their foot sticking out of the bottom gap of the door. They were unconscious, had vomited and we got an ambulance. Where do you go when you feel ill? The toilet. I would have thought it is where most people collapse at work.

From a practical point of view they will be very dirty as you can’t swish a mop round under the gap so you’ll get crusty walls and door bottoms. Also smells will be very much contained and identifiable for those leaving the cubicle, embarrassing for those with bowel conditions.

I was rewatching Fleabag tonight, where she’s helping her sister who was having a miscarriage in the loos, and thought about this thread. So that’s my final point. Lots go on in loos other than wees and poos.

This is useful for practicalities (including cost):
onepointpartitions.com/blog/2018/05/18/why-are-bathroom-stalls-not-to-the-floor/

Do you seriously rinse out bloody knickers and tights in front of female colleagues? I’ve been using public/ work/ school loos for 40 years and never even seen the oft mentioned bloodstained hands being washed.

Having said that I’m massively opposed to mixed sex toilets for all sorts of reasons, mainly safety.

Do you seriously rinse out bloody knickers and tights in front of female colleagues? I’ve been using public/ work/ school loos for 40 years and never even seen the oft mentioned bloodstained hands being washed

Lucky you and believe me it happens.

At my work we have completely enclosed loos with sinks in the individual cubicle which is handy from a privacy POV. I don’t want to rinse a mooncup in front of colleagues even the women. I do wish they were single sex