UNISON, one of the U.K.’s leading trade unions, has run a scheme called Water@Work, campaigning to get water coolers in ev
ery workplace. It has emphasized in its health and safety guidelines the importance of having drinking water available for all employees, and water coolers are the ideal way to offer this. UNISON assert that, with adequate maintenance, water coolers can be vital in safeguarding the well-being of staff by ensuring that they always have access to safe, good quality drinking water.
In particular, UNISON points to the choice between water coolers, meaning employers can opt for a water cooler most suitable to them. Mains-fed water coolers are a good option where there are no staff trained to lift and replace bottles. As UNISON points out, this avoids any members of staff risking injury by lifting bottles improperly, and means that health and safety guidelines about access to water can be upheld without jeopardizing employee safety in any other way. However, having access to any drinking water is the most important thing, and thus bottled water coolers can be a great alternative where mains-fed water coolers are not practical.
The Water Cooler Company promotes sufficient access to water in the workplace, and UNISON’s campaign is a sign that this is an issue important not just to our company, but across the nation.
