Welfare Van Information
What is a welfare van?
A Welfare Van, also known as a "Welfare Unit" or "Mess Van" is the term used to describe a mobile general amenities vehicle.
A Welfare Van will commonly be fitted out to provide:
Hot Running Water
Canteen
Seating
Toilet
Tool Storage
The simplest way to define the Welfarevan, is as a vehicle that provides the comforts you would expect to have in a work place.
This in part is what lead to the development of Welfare/Mess Vans. Where in industries like construction, infrastructure, utilities etc company employees could be working in environments where basic amenities were difficult to or unable to be provided.
One of the most recognisable Welfare Units are the fleet operated by Network Rail. These are often seen in areas where maintenance is carried out across the UKs rail network.
Do I need to provide a welfare van?
If you or your employees are working in an environment where no toilet, hot water or canteen facility is already provided. Then the answer is quite likely "yes".
HSE state ’If you employ anyone (however short the period) you must 'so far as is reasonably practicable', provide adequate and appropriate welfare facilities for them while they are at work.‘
** IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYERS **
In the UK employers have a legal obligation under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 to ensure that basic facilities such as, washing, toilet, rest and changing facilities as well as somewhere safe to eat and drink during break periods is provided.
Schedule 2 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) lists the welfare facilities that should be in place at any site.
As listed earlier the key elements to look for in your next Welfare Van are:
- Hot Running Water
- Toilet
- Canteen
- Seating
Who uses Welfare Vans?
Welfare Vans are used across a number of industries, but are most commonly found in:
- Construction
- Highways
- Rail
- Emergency Response Services
It may seem like common sense that you'd find Welfare Vans in these sectors. They're industries whose hours of operation can be outside the 9 to 5 and regularly operate in hazardous conditions; not least the challenging UK Weather.
We also find that Welfare Vans are Hired by those who have short term 3 to 6 month projects where mobility is a requirement, like survey teams, filming crews and Abseil inspection teams.
In short, we come back to the point of:
Do I need a welfare van?
Throughout the UK as part of a move to decrease the pollutants in the air and improve air quality overall, areas have been identified where a levy has to be paid on vehicles which do not meet the emissions standards of:
Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicle
These are designated: Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ)
ULEZ Welfare Vans 
With our clearly labelled operation instructions and control panels, we consider our Welfare units to be user friendly.
Easy to Operate Control Panel
See what our clients say
"
We approached Van World at the start of November in our search for a welfare van to add to our fleet.
We were in urgent need of the vehicle and the staff were exceptionally helpful in ensuring we were able to take delivery of a vehicle that was in the final stages of preparation within a week.
The van was collected on Tuesday 10th November and we are extremely impressed with the build quality and specification of the vehicle.
We were delighted with the service we received and have already placed an order for 2 new Ford Transit Welfare Vans.
The van was collected on Tuesday 10th November and we are extremely impressed with the build quality and specification of the vehicle.
We were delighted with the service we received and have already placed an order for 2 new Ford Transit Welfare Vans.
Mr C Robinson, CG Robinson Son Ltd.
"
We were looking for Welfare Vans in a hurry to help support all the recent changes around COVID legislation.
Van World came up with exactly the specification we needed, when we needed them by.
Prompt and efficient service, with no compromise to quality.
Van World came up with exactly the specification we needed, when we needed them by.
Prompt and efficient service, with no compromise to quality.
David Aylesbury, Derbyshire
"
We needed a specific bespoke storage solution, that exactly fitted the parts we use.
Fed up of rattling around and rummaging, we turned to Van World. We were so glad we did.
The bespoke build quality was impressive and resulted in vastly improving our efficiency and professionalism.
Fed up of rattling around and rummaging, we turned to Van World. We were so glad we did.
The bespoke build quality was impressive and resulted in vastly improving our efficiency and professionalism.
Lyn Jackson, Manchester
