(MTP Ordinance No. 2772, of September 5, 2022)
SUMMARY
24.1 Objective and Scope of Application
24.2 Sanitary Facilities
24.3 Sanitary Components
24.4 Locker Rooms
24.5 Meal Areas
24.6 Kitchens
24.7 Accommodation
24.8 Work Clothing
24.9 General Provisions
Annex I: Sanitary and Comfort Conditions in Shopping Centers
Annex II: Sanitary and Comfort Conditions in External Services
Annex III: Sanitary and Comfort Conditions in Public Urban Road Transport for External Passenger Activity
24.1 Objective and Scope
24.1.1 This standard establishes the minimum hygiene and comfort conditions to be observed by organizations, with all facilities regulated by this NR based on the number of worker users in the shift with the largest contingent.
24.1.1.1 For the purposes of this NR, worker users, hereinafter referred to as workers, include all workers in the establishment who regularly use the facilities regulated by this NR.
24.2 Sanitary Facilities
24.2.1 Every establishment must have sanitary facilities consisting of a siphon toilet with a seat and cover, and a sink.
24.2.1.1 Male sanitary facilities must have urinals unless they are essentially for individual use, observing that:
a) Establishments built until 23/09/2019 must have urinals sized according to NR-24 as per the wording given by MTb Ordinance No 3214/1978.
b) Establishments built from 24/09/2019 must have urinals in the proportion of one unit for every 20 (twenty) workers or fraction, up to 100 (one hundred) workers, and one unit for every 50 (fifty) workers or fraction beyond that.
24.2.2 A minimum proportion of one sanitary facility must be provided for every group of 20 (twenty) workers or fraction, separated by sex.
24.2.2.1 One sink must be required for every 10 (ten) workers in activities involving exposure to and handling of infectious material, toxic substances, irritants, aerosols, or that cause the deposition of dust, impregnating the skin and clothes of the worker.
24.2.2.2 In establishments with commercial, administrative, or similar functions with up to 10 (ten) workers, a single individual sanitary facility for shared use between sexes may be provided, ensuring privacy conditions.
24.2.3 Sanitary facilities must:
a) Be kept in good condition, clean, and hygienic;
b) Have floors and walls covered with impermeable and washable material;
c) Have intact sanitary fixtures;
d) Have containers for used paper disposal;
e) Be ventilated to the outside or have a forced ventilation system;
f) Have piped water and sewage connected to the general network or another system that does not pose a health risk and meets local regulations; and
g) Be connected to work areas by covered walkways if located outside the main building.
24.3 Sanitary Components
Toilets
24.3.1 Compartments for toilets must:
a) Be individual;
b) Have partitions of a height that ensures privacy with a lower gap to facilitate cleaning and ventilation;
c) Have independent doors with locks that prevent exposure;
d) Have toilet paper with a holder and a container for used toilet paper disposal when disposal in the toilet is not allowed, with a lid for women; and
e) Have dimensions according to the local building code or, in its absence, a free area of at least 0.60m (sixty centimeters) in diameter between the front edge of the toilet and the closed door.
Urinals
24.3.2 Urinals may be of the individual or collective trough type, with a partition.
24.3.2.1 In the collective trough urinal, each segment of at least 0.60m (sixty centimeters) corresponds to one unit for sizing purposes.
24.3.2.2 In the collective trough urinal, if there is no partition, each segment of at least 0.80m (eighty centimeters) corresponds to one unit for sizing purposes.
24.3.2.3 Urinals must be made of impermeable material and kept clean and hygienic.
Sinks
24.3.3 The sink may be individual, trough, or collective countertop with multiple basins and faucets, with each segment of 0.60m (sixty centimeters) corresponding to one unit for sizing purposes.
24.3.4 The sink must have material or a device for hand cleaning, drying, or drying, with the use of collective towels prohibited.
Showers
24.3.5 For each group of workers or fraction, 1 (one) shower must be required for every:
a) 10 (ten) workers in activities involving exposure to and handling of infectious material, toxic substances, irritants, or aerosols, impregnating the skin and clothes of the worker;
b) 20 (twenty) workers in activities involving contact with substances that cause dust deposition, impregnating the skin and clothes of the worker, requiring physical effort, or subjected to intense heat conditions.
24.3.5.1 In activities requiring showers, they must be part of or annexed to the locker rooms.
24.3.6 Compartments for showers must:
a) Be individual and kept in good condition, clean, and hygienic;
b) Have access doors that prevent exposure;
c) Have hot and cold water showers;
d) Have floors and walls covered with impermeable and washable material;
e) Have soap and towel holders; and
f) Have dimensions according to the local building code or, in its absence, at least 0.80m (eighty centimeters) by 0.80m (eighty centimeters).
24.4 Locker Rooms
24.4.1 All establishments must have locker rooms when:
a) The activity requires the use of work clothes or uniform that must be changed at the workplace; or b) The activity requires the establishment to provide showers.
24.4.2 Locker rooms must be sized according to the number of workers needing to use them, up to 750 (seven hundred and fifty) workers, as per the following calculation: minimum locker room area per worker = 1.5 – (number of workers / 1000).
24.4.2.1 In establishments with more than 750 (seven hundred and fifty) workers, locker rooms must be sized with an area of at least 0.75m² (seventy-five square decimeters) per worker.
24.4.3 Locker rooms must:
a) Be kept in good condition, clean, and hygienic;
b) Have floors and walls covered with impermeable and washable material;
c) Be ventilated to the outside or have a forced ventilation system;
d) Have washable and impermeable seating in number compatible with the number of workers; and
e) Have individual lockers with locking systems.
Lockers
24.4.4 Rotational use of simple lockers among users is allowed, except when used for storing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clothing exposed to infectious material, toxic substances, irritants, or that cause dirt.
24.4.5 In activities involving exposure to and handling of infectious material, toxic substances, irritants, or aerosols, as well as those involving contact with substances causing dust deposition, impregnating the skin and clothes of the worker, double compartment lockers or two simple lockers must be provided.
24.4.5.1 Organizations that provide daily clothing cleaning or disposable clothing are exempt from providing 2 (two) simple lockers or a double locker, ensuring the provision of 1 (one) simple locker for storing personal clothes of the worker.
24.4.6 Simple lockers must be large enough for the worker to store clothes and personal accessories, with minimum dimensions of 0.40m (forty centimeters) in height, 0.30m (thirty centimeters) in width, and 0.40m (forty centimeters) in depth.
24.4.6.1 Double compartment lockers must have minimum dimensions of:
a) 0.80m (eighty centimeters) in height, 0.30m (thirty centimeters) in width, and 0.40m (forty centimeters) in depth, with a shelf separating one compartment for common clothes and another for work clothes; or
b) 0.80m (eighty centimeters) in height, 0.50m (fifty centimeters) in width, and 0.40m (forty centimeters) in depth, with vertical division, providing strict isolation of common and work clothes.
24.4.7 Companies offering storage services for workers’ clothes and personal accessories are exempt from providing lockers.
24.4.8 In companies not required to maintain locker rooms, provision of a locker, drawer with lock, or similar for individual storage of workers’ personal belongings must be ensured.
24.5 Meal Areas
24.5.1 Employers must provide workers with comfortable and hygienic areas for meals during work breaks.
24.5.1.1 Workers of the shift may be divided into groups for meals to organize the flow for users’ comfort, ensuring meal and rest breaks.
24.5.2 Meal areas for up to 30 (thirty) workers, as per subitem 24.5.1.1, must:
a) Be designated or adapted for this purpose;
b) Be ventilated and in good condition, clean, and hygienic; and c) Have enough seating and tables, counters, or similar for all users.
24.5.2.1 The company must ensure nearby the meal area:
a) Means for meal conservation and heating;
b) Place and materials for washing utensils used for meals; and
c) Drinking water.
24.5.3 Meal areas for more than 30 (thirty) workers, as per subitem 24.5.1.1, must:
a) Be designated for this purpose and outside the work area;
b) Have washable and impermeable floors;
c) Have walls painted or covered with washable and impermeable material;
d) Have circulation spaces;
e) Be ventilated to the outside or have a forced ventilation system, except in artificially climatized environments;
f) Have sinks nearby or in the same location, meeting the requirements of subitem 24.3.4;
g) Have washable or disposable surface tables and seats in numbers corresponding to users;
h) Have available drinking water;
i) Be kept in good condition, clean, and hygienic;
j) Have means for meal heating; and
k) Have containers with lids for disposing of food waste and disposables.
24.5.4 Exemptions from item 24.5 of this NR:
a) Commercial banking establishments and similar activities that interrupt activities for 2 (two) hours for meals;
b) Industrial establishments located in interior cities, when the company maintains a workers’ village or workers reside nearby, allowing meals at home.
c) Establishments offering meal vouchers, provided that conditions for meal conservation and heating are available, as well as a place for workers to have meals brought from home.
24.6 Kitchens
24.6.1 When companies have kitchens, these must:
a) Be adjacent to meal areas and connected to them;
b) Have floors and walls covered with impermeable and washable material;
c) Have ventilation openings protected with screens or extractor ventilation;
d) Have a sink for food service workers with material or device for cleaning, drying, or drying hands, prohibiting the use of collective towels;
e) Have conditions for waste disposal and disposal in accordance with local solid waste control regulations; and
f) Have separate sanitary facilities for the exclusive use of workers handling food, separated by sex.
24.6.2 In cold rooms, devices must be installed to open the door from the inside, ensuring the possibility of opening even if locked from the outside.
24.6.3 LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) storage containers must be installed in a ventilated external area, following relevant Brazilian technical standards.
24.7 Accommodation
24.7.1 Accommodation is a set of spaces or buildings, consisting of dormitories, sanitary facilities, dining areas, living areas, and a place for washing and drying clothes, under the employer’s responsibility, for the temporary lodging of workers.
24.7.2 Dormitories in accommodations must:
a) Be kept in good condition, clean, and hygienic;
b) Have rooms;
c) Have sanitary facilities with a proportion of 01 (one) facility with a shower for every 10 (ten) workers or fraction; and
d) Be separated by sex.
24.7.2.1 If the sanitary facilities are not part of the dormitories, they must be located a maximum distance of 50m (fifty meters) from them, connected by covered walkways with washable floors.
24.7.3 Dormitory rooms must:
a) Have beds corresponding to the number of workers in the room, prohibiting the use of 3 (three) or more beds in the same vertical space, with vertical and horizontal spacing allowing safe movement;
b) Have mattresses certified by INMETRO;
c) Have clean and hygienic mattresses, sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and pillows suitable for climatic conditions;
d) Have natural ventilation, used together with artificial ventilation considering local climatic conditions;
e) Have a maximum capacity of 8 (eight) workers;
f) Have lockers;
g) Have a minimum area of 3.00m² (three square meters) per single bed or 4.50m² (four square meters and fifty centimeters) per bunk bed, including circulation and locker areas; and
h) Have acoustic comfort as per NR-17.
24.7.3.1 Beds or bunk beds must meet the following requirements:
a) All components or parts that the worker may come into contact with during use must not have burrs or sharp edges, nor open tubes;
b) Have resistance compatible with use; and
c) Have dimensions compatible with the mattress used as per item 24.7.3.
24.7.3.1.1 The upper beds of bunk beds must have fixed side protection and ladders.
24.7.3.2 Dormitory lockers must have a locking system and dimensions compatible for storing clothes and personal belongings of the worker, and bed linen.
24.7.4 Workers lodged in the same room should preferably belong to the same work shift.
24.7.5 Meal areas must meet the requirements of item 24.5 of this NR, either as part of the accommodation or located in external environments.
24.7.5.1 If meal areas are not part of the accommodation, transportation of workers must be ensured.
24.7.5.2 The preparation of any type of food inside the rooms is prohibited.
24.7.6 Accommodations must provide locations and infrastructure for washing and drying personal clothes of lodgers or offer laundry services.
24.7.7 Accommodation floors must be impermeable and washable.
24.7.8 Daily garbage collection, laundry of bed linen, maintenance of facilities, and renewal of bed linens and mattresses must be ensured.
24.7.9 General usage instructions in accommodations:
a) Sanitary facilities must be cleaned daily;
b) The installation and use of stoves, cookers, or similar are prohibited in rooms;
c) Vector control must be ensured following local legislation.
24.7.10 Workers lodged with suspected contagious disease must undergo medical evaluation to decide on their removal or stay in the accommodation.
24.8 Work Clothing
24.8.1 Work clothing refers to any piece or set of pieces of clothing intended to meet the requirements of certain activities or working conditions involving contact with dirt, chemical, physical, or biological agents, or to allow the worker to be more visible, not considered as a uniform or PPE.
24.8.2 The employer must provide work clothing free of charge.
24.8.3 Work clothing does not replace the need for PPE, although its use can be combined.
24.8.4 The employer is responsible for work clothing:
a) Providing pieces made of appropriate material and size, aiming at the necessary comfort and safety for the worker’s activity;
b) Replacing pieces according to their lifespan or whenever damaged;
c) Providing an adequate quantity for use, considering the need to change clothing; and
d) Taking responsibility for cleaning at necessary intervals in cases where washing poses contamination risks.
24.8.4.1 When exclusive clothing for each worker is not feasible, prior cleaning must be ensured before use.
24.8.5 Work clothing pieces used on the head or face should not restrict the worker’s field of vision.
24.9 General Provisions
24.9.1 In all workplaces, drinking water must be provided to workers, with the use of collective cups prohibited.
24.9.1.1 Water supply must be done via drinking fountains in the proportion of at least 1 (one) for every group of 50 (fifty) workers or fraction, or another system offering the same conditions.
24.9.1.2 If running drinking water is not available, it must be provided in portable, hermetically sealed containers.
24.9.2 Drinking water storage locations must be periodically cleaned, sanitized, and maintained following local legislation.
24.9.3 Periodic analysis of water potability from reservoirs must be conducted to verify its quality, following legislation.
24.9.4 Non-potable water for workplace use must be kept separate, with a warning notice of its non-potability.
24.9.5 Water storage locations, wells, and drinking water sources must be protected against contamination.
24.9.6 Workplaces must be kept in hygiene conditions compatible with the type of activity.
24.9.6.1 Cleaning services must be performed, whenever possible, outside working hours and by methods minimizing dust dispersion.
24.9.7 All environments provided in this standard must be built according to the local building code, ensuring:
a) Adequate and resistant roofing to protect against weather;
b) Walls made of resistant material;
c) Floors of material compatible with use and pedestrian traffic;
d) Lighting ensuring safety against accidents.
24.9.7.1 In the absence of a local building code, a minimum ceiling height of 2.50m (two meters and fifty centimeters) must be ensured, except in dormitory rooms with bunk beds, where the minimum height will be 3.00m (three meters).
24.9.7.2 Electrical installations must be protected to avoid electric shocks.
24.9.8 Conditions must be provided for workers to interrupt their activities to use sanitary facilities.
24.9.9 In buildings with multiple establishments, all facilities provided in this NR can be collectively managed by a group of employers or the condominium, with the employer remaining responsible for providing the facilities.
24.9.9.1 Sizing must be based on the highest number of workers per shift.