(Last amendment on September 17, 1993)
24.1 Sanitary facilities.
24.1.1 For the purposes of this NR24:
a) sanitary units: equipments or parts meant to use water for hygienic purposes or to receive wastewater (bath, urinal, water dispenser, sink, toilet and others);
b) sanitary cabinets: also referred to latrine, retrete, private or WC, the place to use for hygienic purposes or excretion;
c) bathroom: a set of parts or equipments that compose of particular unit and meant for body hygiene.
24.1.2 The area of toilets shall comply with minimum necessary dimensions. The regional competent body in Occupational Health and Safety may, in the sight of local expertise, require footage changes that address to minimum required comfort. One square meter footage for each 20 workers is considered satisfactory.
24.1.2.1 The sanitary facilities shall be separated by gender.
24.1.3 The sanitary facilities shall be subject to ongoing cleaning routine, so that they are kept clean and free of any odor throughout the working day.
24.1.4 The toilets shall be siphoned and have external automatic flushing boxes made of cast iron, plastic or fiber cement material.
24.1.5 The showers can be made of metal or plastic, and shall be controlled by metal records at half height of the wall.
24.1.6 The urinal shall be made of vitrified porcelain or similar smooth and impermeable material, which is endowed with automatic or manual flush for draining and cleaning easily, and can be through or bowl type.
24.1.6.1 Each segment of through-type urinal shall be at least 0.60m corresponded to bowl-type urinal..
24.1.7 The wash basins shall be formed by gutters coated with impermeable and washable materials, having common-type metal taps spaced at 0.60m apart. There shall be one faucet available for each group of 20 workers..
24.1.8 One wash basin for each group of 10 workers shall be required in unhealthy activities or operations, or while working exposed to toxic, irritating, infectious, allergenic substances, and dusts and substances that cause dirt.
24.1.8.1 The provisions of item 24.1.8 shall also be applied to the locations next to relevant activities.
24.1.9 The lavatories shall have materials for cleaning, wiping or drying hands. Collective use of towels is prohibited..
24.1.10 There shall be plumbing with water intake, solely and exclusively for use against fire.
24.1.11 The bathrooms, endowed with showers, shall:
a) be kept in hygienically clean and good conditions;
b) be installed in suitable places;
c) have hot water, at the discretion of competent authority in Occupational Health and Safety;
d) have doors that prevent someone breaking into, or be constructed so as to be an appropriate guard;
e) have floors and walls covered with resistant, smooth, impermeable and washable materials.
24.1.12 One shower for each group of 10 workers shall be required in unhealthy activities or operations, or while working exposed to toxic, irritating, infectious, allergenic substances, and dusts and substances that cause dirt, and in case where they are exposed to intense heat.
24.1.13 Defective sanitary appliance which may lead to leaks or accidents shall not be allowed.
24.1.14 When the establishments install private facilities and urinals accompanying various manufacturing sections, the equipments shall be computed in proportions set out in this NR24.
24.1.15 In food or beverage industries, the isolation of private shall be as thorough as possible in order to prevent pollution or contamination of the workplace.
24.1.16 In the areas where there is no sewage system, a private service shall be provided to the employees, either through appropriate pits or any other processes that do not affect the public health, maintaining legal requirements.
24.1.17 In commercial, banking and insurance institutions, office facilities and the like, the competent local authority in Occupational Health and Safety may waive or reduce the number of urinals and showers established in this NR24, in a reasoned decision submitted to the approval of the Regional Labor Office.
24.1.18 The walls of the toilets shall be constructed in common brickwork or concrete, and be covered with impermeable and washable materials.
24.1.19 The floors shall be impermeable, washable, and have smooth finishing, inclined to the drains equiped with hydraulic siphons. They shall also prevent moisture and fumes entering the bathrooms. They shall not present any recesses and protrusions.
24.1.20 The coverage of sanitary facilities shall have wooden or metal structure, and the tiles may be clay or fiber cement.
24.1.20.1 Translucent tiles shall be placed in order to enhance natural lighting, as well as 4 ventilation tiles in 4 meters.
24.1.21 The windows of sanitary facilities shall have fixed frames, inclined 45°, with colorless and translucent glasses inclined 45°, totaling an area corresponding to 1/8 of the floor area.
24.1.21.1 The lower part of the frame shall be located at least at the height of 1.50 m from the floor.
24.1.22 The place intended for the toilet facilities shall be provided with a lighting grid, and the wiring shall be protected in ducts.
24.1.23 In order to maintain minimum 100 lux luminance, 100W incandescent lamps, or other types of light fixtures that produce the same effect, shall be in installed in 8.00² area at maximum height of 3.00 m.
24.1.24 The water main will be fed by an elevated water tank, which shall be high enough to allow proper flow within the water inlets and rely on reserve for fighting against fires according to local positions.
24.1.24.1 60 liters of water per employee will be provided for consumption in sanitary facilities.
24.1.25 The sanitary facilities shall have piped water and sewers connected to the public network or septic tank, by interposing with hydraulic siphons.
24.1.25.1 They cannot be directly connected to the places of work or the premises allocated to meals.
24.1.25.2 They shall be kept in hygienically clean and good conditions.
24.1.25.3 In case they are located outside of the establishment, they shall be connected to the place of work through covered walkways.
24.1.26 The sanitary cabinets shall:
a) be installed in individual, separate compartments;
b) be vented to the outside;
c) have partition walls with a minimum height of 2.10 m and its lower edge cannot be located more than 0.15m above the ground;
d) be endowed with independent doors providing closure to prevent someone breaking into;
e) be kept in hygienically clean and good conditions;
f) have containers with lid to hold used papers, when not connected directly to the network or when they are for women.
24.1.26.1 Each sanitary cabinet group shall be installed in independent place, provided with antechamber.
24.1.27 The basins or toilet bowls shall not be made of wooden, cement or other materials (boxes).
24.2 Locker rooms.
24.2.1 In all industrial establishments and those in which the activity requires changing clothes, or, imposes the use of uniform or overall, there shall be appropriate location for locker room endowed with personal lockers, noted the gender differences.
24.2.2 The location of locker rooms, respecting the determination of the competent regional authority in Occupational Health and Safety, shall take the convenience of the establishment into account.
24.2.3 The area of a dressing room shall be designed to take a minimum of 1.50 m² for 1 worker.
24.2.4 The walls of locker rooms shall be constructed in common brickwork or concrete, and be covered with impermeable and washable materials.
24.2.5 The floors shall be impermeable, washable, and have smooth finishing, inclined to the drains equipped with hydraulic siphons. They shall also prevent moisture and fumes entering the locker rooms. They shall not present any recesses and protrusions.
24.2.6 The covering of locker rooms shall have wooden or metal structure, and the tiles may be clay or fiber cement.
24.2.6.1 2 Translucent tiles shall be placed in order to enhance natural lighting.
24.2.7 The windows of locker rooms shall have fixed frames, inclined 45°, with colorless and translucent glass, totaling an area corresponding to 1/8 of the floor area.
24.2.7.1 The lower part of the frame shall be located at least at the height of 1.50 m from the floor.
24.2.8 The place intended for locker rooms shall be provided with a lighting grid, and the wiring shall be protected in ducts.
24.2.9 In order to maintain minimum 100 lux luminance, 100W incandescent lamps, or other types of light fixtures that produce the same effect, shall be in installed in 8.00² area at maximum height of 3.00 m.
24.2.10 The lockers shall be individual.
24.2.10.1 The lockers shall have openings for ventilation or screened doors which can be overlapped.
24.2.10.2 They shall be painted with washable paints or coated with plastic laminate, if applicable.
24.2.11 In unhealthy activities or operations, as well as in activities incompatible with the body hygiene, which expose workers to dust and greasy or oily products, the lockers shall have dual compartments.
24.2.12 The dual compartment lockers shall have the following dimensions:
a) 1.20m in height, 0.30m in width and 0.40m in depth, with separation or shelf so that one compartment with a height of 0.80m is meant for common clothes, and the other compartment is for working clothes; or
b) 0.80m in height and 0.50m in width and 0.40m depths, with a vertical partition separating the locker into two compartments with a width of 0.25m.
24.2.13 The single compartment lockers shall have minimum dimensions of 0.80m in height, 0.30m in width and 0.40m in depth.
24.2.14 In commercial, banking and insurance institutions, office facilities and the like, where there is no need to change the clothes, locker rooms are not required, assuming that the employers can use drawers, bins or racks to hang or put their belongings.
24.2.15 In special cases, the local authority in Occupational Health and Safety may require the individual lockers for certain activities, in a reasoned decision submitted to the approval of the MTE.
24.2.16 It is forbidden to use the lockers for any other purposes, even provisionally. The clothes and belongings of employees are not allowed to be found outside their lockers, under penalty of assessment.
24.3 Mess halls.
24.3.1 In the establishments where more than 300 employees work, it is mandatory to provide mess hall. The workers are not allowed to take their meals elsewhere in the establishment.
24.3.2 The mess hall referred in item 24.3.1 shall meet following requirements:
a) 1.00m² area per user, housing, at a time, one third of the total number of employees per shift, which has the greatest number of employees;
b)the main circulation area shall have a minimum width of 75 cm and the circulation between benches and benches/wall shall have a minimum width of 55 cm.
24.3.3 The mess halls shall be provided with a lighting grid, and the wiring shall be protected in ducts.
24.3.4 150W incandescent lamps, or other types of light fixtures that produce the same effect, shall be installed in 6,00 m² area at maximum height of 3.00 m.
24.3.5 The floor shall be impermeable, covered with ceramic, plastic or other washable material.
24.3.6 The covering shall have wooden or metal structure, and the tiles may be clay or fiber cement
24.3.7 The roof shall be slab of concrete, stucco, wood or other suitable material.
24.3.8 Walls shall be covered with resistant, smooth, impermeable material to the height of 1.50 m.
24.3.9 Ventilation and lighting according to the guidelines of federal, state or local law.
24.3.10 Drinking water, in hygienic conditions, shall be provided by means of individual cups, or inclined jet-type drinking fountain. Installation in sinks and washbasins, and the use of collective cups is forbidden.
24.3.11 Individual or collective washbasins and sinks shall be installed near or in the mess hall, in sufficient number, at the discretion of competent authority in Occupational Health and Safety.
24.3.12 Tables shall have flat tops and be made of impermeable material, provided with benches or chairs, be kept constantly clean.
24.3.13 The mess hall shall be installed in an appropriate place, not being connected directly to the work areas, sanitary installations, unhealthy or hazardous locations.
24.3.14 It is forbidden to use mess halls to store materials, even provisionally, as well as for any other purposes.
24.3.15 In the establishments where more than 30 and less than 300 employees work, while a mess hall is not required, the employees shall be provided with sufficient comfort conditions to have their meals.
24.3.15.1 The comfort conditions mentioned in item 24.03.15 shall meet the following minimum requirements:
a)appropriate place outside the work area;
b)washable floor;
c)cleaning, aeration and good lighting;
d)tables and seats corresponding to the number of users;
e)washbasins and sinks installed near or in the local;
f)providing drinking water;
g)oven, stove or similar equipments to heat meal.
24.3.15.2 In the establishments where less than 30 employees work, at the discretion of competent authority on Occupational Health and Safety, the employees shall be provided with sufficient comfort conditions to have their meals in a place that meets cleaning, aeration, lighting and drinking water supply requirements
24.3.15.3 The requirements of this NR24 shall be exempted for:
a) shopping and banking facilities and related activities that interrupts their activities for 2 hours, during the period of lunch time;
b) industrial establishments located in the inner cities, where the company maintains worker residents and allows the workers have their meals in their own houses.
24.3.15.4 In exceptional cases, considering special conditions like duration and nature of work, smallness of area, local peculiarities and type of participation in PAT, the competent authority in Occupational Health and Safety may waive the requirements of items 24.3.1 and 24.3.15.2, submitting its decision to the approval of the Regional Labor Delegate.
24.3.15.5 In the establishments where 30 or less employees work, at the discretion of competent authority in Occupational Health and Safety, eating in the workplace may be allowed by following the following conditions:
a) comply with legal provisions on safety and occupational health;
b) interruption of activities in the establishment, during the lunch time;
c) no activity that is unhealthy, dangerous or incompatible with the body hygiene.
24.4 Kitchens.
24.4.1 They shall be adjacent to mess halls and connected to them through openings where the meals are served.
24.4.2 The areas planned for kitchen and food storage shall be respectively 35% and 20% of mess hall.
24.4.3 The kitchens shall have a ceiling height of 3.00 m at least.
24.4.4 Te walls of kitchens shall be constructed in common brickwork, concrete or wooden, covered with smooth, resistant, impermeable and washable material.
24.4.5 Floors shall be identical to those in item 24.2.5.
24.4.6 The doors shall be metal or wooden, at least 1.00 m by 2.10 m. 24.4.7 The windows shall be wooden or metal, at least 60 cm by 60 cm.
24.4.7.1 The openings, in addition to ensuring sufficient aeration, shall be protected with screens, and the ventilation can be improved through extractor fans.
24.4.8 Paint shall be identical to those in item 24.5.17.
24.4.9 The lighting grid shall have wiring protected in ducts.
24.4.10 150W incandescent lamps, or other types of light fixtures that produce the same effect, shall be installed in 4.00m² area at maximum height of 3.00m.
24.4.11 Washbasins shall be endowed with running tap water to be used by employees of food service and have soap and towels.
24.4.12 The waste shall be treated according to the local standards of Public Health Services.
24.4.13 It is essential that the kitchen staffs responsible for handling foods and utensils have their own toilets and dressing rooms, which are prohibited for diners, and are not connected to the kitchen.
24.5 Accommodation.
24.5.1 Conceptualization.
24.5.1.1 Accommodation is the place intended for resting of workers.
24.5.2 General characteristics.
24.5.2.1 The maximum capacity of each dormitory shall be 100 workers.
24.5.2.2 The dormitories shall have minimum areas according to the modules (beds / lockers) and able to attend to the effect to be housed, as shown in Table I.
| Number of workers | Bed type and respective area (m2) | Circulation area lateral to bed (m2) | Locker area lateral to bed (m2) | Total area (m2) |
| 1 | Single
1.9 x 0.7 = 1.33 |
1.45 x 0.6 = 0.87 | 0.6 x 0.45 = 0.27 | 2.47 |
| 2 | Bunk
1.9 x 0.7 = 1.33 |
1.45 x 0.6 = 0.87 | 0.6 x 0.45 = 0.27 | 2.47 |
Maximum two beds shall be allowed in the same vertical.
24.5.3 The accommodations shall be located in areas that allow to meet not only the construction requirements but also avoid damage to neighboring buildings.
24.5.4 The accommodations shall have a pavement and can have a maximum of two floors where the area available for construction is insufficient.
24.5.5 The accommodations shall have internal circulation area with a minimum width of 1.00 meters in dormitories.
24.5.6 The ceilings of accommodations shall meet the following minimum dimensions:
a) 2.6m for single beds;
b) 3.0m for bunk beds.
24.5.7 The walls of the accommodations shall be constructed in common brickwork, concrete or wood.
24.5.8 The floors of the accommodations shall be impermeable, washable and have rough finishing. They shall also prevent moisture and fumes entering in the accommodations. They shall not present any recesses and protrusions, and the finishing shall comply with minimum conditions for thermal comfort and hygiene.
24.5.9 The covering of the accommodations shall have wooden or metal structure, and the tiles may be clay or fiber cement, and there will be no lining.
24.5.9.1 The section of roof shall have a pitch of 1:4, regardless of the type of tiles.
24.5.10 The doors of accommodations shall be metal or wooden, opening outward, at least 1.00m x 2.10m for each 100 employees.
24.5.11 In case there is a hallway, there shall have at least one door opening outward at each end.24.5.12 The windows of accommodations shall be wooden or metal, at least 60cm by 60cm.
24.5.12.1 The lower part of the frame shall be located at least on the upper bed plane (in case of bunk beds), and at 1.60m from the floor in case of single bed.
24.5.13 The connection between accommodations and bathrooms shall be made through doors at least 0.80 m by 2.10 m.
24.5.14 The accommodations shall be provided with a lighting grid, and the wiring shall be protected in ducts.
24.5.15 In order to maintain minimum 100 lux luminance, 100W incandescent lamps, or other types of light fixtures that produce the same effect, shall be installed in 8.00 m² area at maximum height of 3.00 m.
24.5.16 Drinking fountains shall be installed in the accommodations according to item 24.6.1.
24.5.17 The paintings on the walls, doors and windows, furnitures and fixtures shall comply with the followings:
a) brickwork – plastic based paint;
b) iron – oil paint;
c) wood – special paint retardant to fire.
24.5.18 The beds may have metal or wooden structure that offers perfect rigidity.
24.5.19 The headroom of the bunk beds shall be at least 1.10 m from the top level of the lower bunk mattress to the lower level of the top bunk.
24.5.19.1 The upper bunks shall have side protection and headroom of minimum 1.10 m from the ceiling.
24.5.19.2 Access to the upper bunk shall be fixed and integral part of the structure.
24.5.19.3 The frames of upper bunks shall be closed at the bottom.
24.5.20 Metal boxes with sand shall be placed to be used as ashtrays.
24.5.21 The lockers in accommodations shall be made of steel or wood, and shall have the following minimum dimensions: 0.60m in width, 0.45m in depth and 0.90m in height.
24.5.22 In the case of two-storey accommodations, there shall be at least two exit stairs kept proportionality 1.0m width for each 100 workers.
24.5.23 Main common hallways and stairs shall have a minimum width of 1.20m, and the secondaries may be 0.80m.
24.5.24.1 These openings may give uncovered external spans, which shall have an area not less than 9m2 and minimum linear dimension of 2.00 m.
24.5.24.2 The values listed in item are applicable to the buildings that have maximum height of 6.00m between the slab of the higher ceiling and the lower floor.
24.5.25 In the case where the vertical Vm between the highest ceiling and the lowest floor exceeds 6.00 m, the span area in square meters is given by V2/4 formulation (the square of value V in meters divided by four), respecting also the minimum linear dimension of 2.00 m for span.
24.5.26 No ventilation shall be provided in dormitories, in an indirect manner only.
24.5.27 The hallways of accommodations with more than 10m long will have exterior spans with an area of not less than 1/8 of respective floor.
24.5.28 The following general instructions shall be observed in the accommodations:
a) all room or facility shall be kept clean and be pulverized in 30 days;
b) the bathrooms shall be disinfected daily;
c) the wastes shall be removed daily and placed in an appropriate place;
d) installation of electrical appliances and use of stove or similar is prohibited in dormitories.
24.5.29 The stay of persons with contagious infectious diseases is prohibited.
24.5.30 Sanitary facilities. in addition to meeting the requirements in item 24.1, shall be integral part of accomodations or be located at a maximum distance of 50.00m.
24.5.31 The ceilings of sanitary facilities shall be at least equal to the adjoining accommodation area. Maximum 0.40m of undercut is permitted for hydraulic installations.24.6 Hygiene and comfort conditions during meals.
24.6.1 Urban and rural companies that have employees covered by the Consolidation of Labor Laws – CLT, and government agencies shall provide their employees with comfort and hygiene conditions to ensure proper meals during the intervals set out in the working day.
24.6.1.1 The company that hires third parties to provide services in their premises shall provide the same health and comfort conditions offered to its own employees to the workers hired.
24.6.2 The company shall guide its workers on the importance of proper meals and healthy eating habits..
24.6.3 In case the workers bring their own food, the company shall ensure proper storage and hygiene conditions and means for heating near the place designated for mealtimes.
24.6.3.1 Thermal equipments complying with provisions in this item shall be offered in sufficient numbers to rural workers and those engaged in work fronts.
24.6.3.2 The receptacles and lunch boxes used by workers shall be provided by companies. They shall meet the hygiene conditions and be appropriate to heating.
24.6.4 It shall be up to the Internal Commission for Accident Prevention – CIPA, the Internal Commission for Accident Prevention in Rural Work – CIPATR, the Specialized Services in Occupational Health and Safety – SESMT and Specialized Services in Accident Prevention in Rural Work – SEPATR, if any, to promote the dissemination and ensure compliance with this NR24.
24.6.5 The labor unions that have knowledge of irregularities regarding to compliance with this standard may report it to the Ministry of Labor and request inspection from regional bodies.
24.6.6 Companies that grant meal benefits to their employees may sign up to the Worker Food Program (PAT) of the Ministry of Labor, complying with the legal provisions dealing with the matter.
24.7 General provisions.
24.7.1 Drinking water, in hygienic conditions, shall be provided for employees in all workplaces. The use of collective containers is forbidden. If there is a water supply network, there shall be inclined jet-type drinking fountains and protective guards in proportion to 1 water dispenser for each 50 employees. The installation of these in washbasins or toilets is prohibited.
24.7.1.1 Companies shall supply fresh drinking water in a quantity greater than 250ml per hour/man job.
24.7.1.2 If running water cannot be supplied, drinking water shall be provided in tightly sealed portable containers so as t allow easy cleaning.
24.7.2 Non-potable water to be used in the workplace shall be separated. and warning notice shall be posted.
24.7.3 Wells and drinking water sources shall be protected against contamination.
24.7.4 When devices that are put in the mouth are used, strictly individual use of those will be allowed, by substituting other mechanical processes, whenever possible.
24.7.5 The workplaces shall be kept in hygienic condition compatible with the type of activity. The cleaning shall be performed, whenever possible, outside the working hours and by process that minimize the dust disturbance.
24.7.6 Those in charge of industrial establishments shall handle and treat wastes so as to make them safe for their employees and the community.
