Portable Canteen units – The Key to a Happier Site
Is a portable canteen unit the key to a happier work site?
Working on a site isn’t that similar to working in an office. There’s more weather to worry about for starters. And the driver’s cab of a piece of plant machinery isn’t the same as an orthopaedic chair at a carefully laid out desk. But one issue that all workers face is the same, regardless of location.
Lunchtime. The statistics for what office workers call an “al desko” meal speak for themselves. A quick bite grabbed on the go while you’re working is less than ideal, with workers reporting that a full lunch break in a canteen or dining area is better for their mental health (74%), diet (65%) and wellbeing (75%).
Having somewhere for a warm, comfortable break is crucial for your people’s welfare.
Lack of canteen facilities is even worse for site workers
Those stats? They’re for people working in a warm, climate controlled office.
We’d guess that 100% of site workers would say access to a site canteen is better for their health and welfare than grabbing a sandwich underneath a half-completed roof, or munching on a packet of crisps without even getting out of the cab. At the very least, it’s somewhere to wash their hands and clean up before eating.
It all adds to stress, unhappiness, and a drop in concentration. Bad enough when you’re responsible for a budget spreadsheet – potentially dangerous when you’re dealing with heavy machinery.
But investing in a site canteen isn’t about counteracting all the negatives of eating on the go. There are also real benefits for your workforce.
First of all, it’s convenient. A portable canteen unit means they can grab a hot or cold meal on-site, without having to head down the road for the nearest fast food or greasy spoon. That means there’s less break time wasted on commuting, and less chance of your workers getting stuck in traffic and arriving late for a shift.
Secondly, it’s going to keep you compliant. If you’re running a construction site, you need to make sure your people have access to food and water in locations away from any potential contaminants. Nobody wants to add brick dust to their meal deal. A site cabin lets you set up a safe, clean place to eat and relax.
Finally, there’s that word relaxation. Just having somewhere to take a short break in comfort helps your team unwind a little, keeping stress levels low and productivity high.
Good for productivity and good for morale – there’s a lot to be said for a canteen unit.
Which canteen unit is right for you?
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all canteen unit. You need to look at all of your requirements before renting a portable canteen.
- Capacity: It might sound obvious, but you need enough space for all the people who’ll be using a canteen at any one time
- What if you have a sprawling work site that’s hard to access? For situations like these, you may need to take a canteen to your workers instead of needing them to trek back to a static unit: What if you have a sprawling work site that’s hard to access? For situations like these, you may need to take a canteen to your workers instead of needing them to trek back to a static unit
- Power: The benefits of a warm meal can’t be overstated, but that means you need to power a site kitchen, or at least a kettle and microwave
With this in mind, you can start thinking about the right cabins for your site.
For example, if you need capacity for ten people in a fixed location without overtaxing your existing power generation services, you should look at something like the Combi Cabin 24 Eco.
Configured as a site canteen, this unit offers comfortable seating, private WC facilities, hot water sinks, and an integrated Microgrid unit to power items like microwaves and kettles.
Larger sites may need a Combi Cabin 44 – offering toilet and canteen facilities for up to 20 people. It needs to be powered by a diesel generator, but includes flushing toilets and urinals, hot and cold water, heating and lighting, and can be laid out with seats and facilities as you see fit. Alternatively, the Accommodation 24 Eco can be combined with other units and configured as an extra-large canteen, providing a comfortable space with extra insulation and lumen lighting.
And if your workforce is spread out across a wide area, then a Welfare Van can bring seating, a sink, hot water and microwave for up to seven people to any location. Along with a private WC with an external door.
Plan your site around worker welfare with Garic
With so many static, mobile and towable welfare units available, it can be a challenge to work out the most cost-effective way to give your people somewhere comfortable to take a break and enjoy a meal.
That’s where our experts come in. We’re always on hand to help you plan a site that includes all of the right welfare, energy and environmental solutions, including of course, the right portable canteen units.
A site that delivers everything your people need to work comfortably, safely and productively?
That’s thinking beyond the box.
