Reference number  
DRS 354: 2017  
© RBS yyyy 
© RSB 2017  
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
354 
 
First edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
Occupational h ealth and safety for non -
food industr ial workers  — Facility 
requirements  
 
 
  DRS 354: 2017  
©RSB 2017 All rights reserved                  ii 
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
Standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB2017  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified,  no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 252 586103/582945  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  DRS 354: 2017  
iii                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Facility requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  2 
4.1 Accommodation for clothing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
4.2 Working environment ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  2 
4.3 Lighting  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
4.4 Seating  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  3 
4.5 First aid  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
4.6 Drinking wat er ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
4.7 Maintenance and calibration of equipment  ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
4.8 Toilets  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  4 
4.9 Fire precautio ns ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  4 
4.10  Hallway signs, colour coding and signalling ................................ ................................ .............  5 
4.11  Safe entry and exit  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  5 
4.12  Proper storage of hazardous materials  ................................ ................................ ......................  5 
4.13  Storage of materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  6 
4.9 Protective clothing and equipment  ................................ ................................ ............................  6 
4.10  Protection from harmful and noise control  ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
Annex  A (informative)  Categories of ventilation  ................................ ................................ ...................  7 
Annex  B (normative)  Levels of acceptable risks  ................................ ................................ ..................  8 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
 DRS 354: 2017  
©RSB 2017 All rights reserved                  iv 
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda  Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 354  was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 013, Environment , Health and Safety . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following stan dard:  
BS 3044 : 1990 , Guide to ergonomics principles in the design and selection of office furniture  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Environment , Health and Safety  
(RSB/TC 013) in the preparation of this standard.  
Cimenterie du Rwanda (CIMERWA)  
Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre – Kigali (IPRC Kigali)  
Kigali Cement Company Ltd (KCC LTD)  
Landmark Ltd  
Ministry o f Natural Resources (MINIRENA)  
Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA)  
Ruliba Clays Ltd  
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)  
Rwanda Environment Management Company Ltd (RWEMACO LTD)  
Rwanda Mines Petroleum and Gas Board (RMPGB)  
Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA)  DRS 354: 2017  
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 Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority  
Safari Center Ltd  
SULFO INDUSTRIES LTD  
Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security and Economic Development ( SAFE ) 
Rwanda  Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 354: 2017  
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 Introduction  
Safety is no t an accident . The issue of s afety involves everyone in every industry . 
Workplace injuries and illnesses significantly impact  on the employees and employers’ interests . However, 
accidents are preventable with safety protocols, safety products and proper trai ning.  
Safety matters to all industries  in that i t affects employee’s health, employer’s profits, public health cost and the 
global economy. Employers who invest in the safety of their employees see improved morale, increased 
productivity, lower costs and, most importantly, no injuries . 
Employers should ensure safety of employees by identifying hazards so that they can be eliminated if 
practicable. Whereas not practicable, the hazards should be isolated or minimized . 
 DRS 354: 2017  
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 Occupational h ealth and safety for non -food industrial workers  — 
Facility requirements  
1 Scope  
This Draft  Rwanda Standard provide s facility requirements for non-food industries to ensure safety and hea lth 
of workers during industrial activities . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document 
(including any amendments) applies.  
RS 183, Occupational health and safety — Management systems — Requirements  
RS 236, Accoustics — Noise pollution — Tolerance limits  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard , the follow ing terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 
health 
state of complete  physical,  mental and social well -being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity  
3.2 
safety  
condition of being protected from harm or other non -desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of 
recognized hazards  in order to achieve an acceptable l evel of risk  in accordance with Annex B  
3.3 
facility  
something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service: e.g 
transportation facility, educational facility; a new research facility. Something that per mits the easier 
performance of an action, course of conduct, etc. to provide someone with everything he/she needs in order to 
accomplish a task   
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 3.4 
non-food industry  
establishment that produces, manufactures or supplies  items other than food  
3.5 
non-food i ndustrial worker  
employee of complex global collective of diverse business( es) that produce items other than food used by world 
population  
3.6 
ergonomics  
scientific study of the relationship between people, the equipment they use, and the environment they work in  
3.7 
drinking water  
portable water intended for human consumption  
4 Facilit y requirement s 
4.1 Accommodation for clothing  
4.1.1  The e mployer  shall provide s eparate changing rooms for each sex  equipped with individual lockable or 
padlockable wardrobes for keeping clothes that are not worn during working hours . The facility  shall also be 
provided with a dequate lighting and ventilation . 
4.1.2  Arrangement for washing and drying clothes shall be made  at the establishment premises.  
4.2 Working environment  
4.2.1  Premises shall be adequately ventilated . Annex A  provides categories of ventilation.  Ventilation 
equipment shall  be regularly inspected, tested and maintained in order to prevent pollutio n cause d by hazards 
originating from the industry . 
4.2.2  A number of factors involved in working environment  such as room temperature, humidity, air velocity , 
dust, sound  and the temperature difference  shall be considered,  when deciding what control measures sh all be 
taken . Care sh all be taken in heating workplaces that no fumes are introduced that are likely to cause offense 
or harm . DRS 354: 2017  
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 4.3 Lighting  
4.3.1  Lighting design sh all ensure a uniform distribution of light over the work area to help reduce visual 
fatigue and provide for the health and safety of all persons in the place of work . Lighting sh all be provided over 
the entire place of work, including amenity rooms, passages,  stairs, ramps, ladders and gangways, which all 
shall be capable of being lit at such times as people pass along or use them . 
4.3.2  Outside areas sh all be satisfactorily lit for work and access during hours of darkness to  provide safety 
and security. A pla ce within the outer boundaries, which is used only occasionally for work does not need to be 
lit constantly, electric switches sh all be so located that  light is conveniently and immediately available, and that 
such switches sh all be readily identifiable . 
4.4 Seating  
4.4.1  Seating sh all be provided for employees whose work is done standing to provide  an opportunity to sit. 
4.4.2  When selecting seating, ergonomic principles  in accordance with ISO 6385  shall be considered to 
ensure that factors such as the height, weight, adjustability, construction and stability  of the seating is 
appropriate for the task or situation for which it has been provided.  
4.5 First aid  
4.5.1  In the event of an emergency, easy access to  medical equipment is crucial. Facility sh all be stocked 
with an assortment of first aid equipment, including both general first aid response items, as well as, some 
tailored to specific work environment, and they sh all be well identified.  
4.5.2  All employ ees sh all have at least minimal training for using the first aid equipment. In many cases, it is 
necessary to have staff members who are specially  trained in first aid  such as Cardio -Pulmonary Resuscitation 
(CPR) . 
4.5.3  The employer sh all provide and maintain health services, first aid facilities, (including first aid rooms) 
appliances and requisites in accordance with the requirements of the factories and commercial premises. A first 
aid box or cabinet sh all be located close to washing fa cilities (including hot and cold water, soap and clean 
towels) and sh all be kept stocked with first aid equipment and materials appropriate for the work being 
undertaken and the number of persons employed.  
4.5.4  Emergency procedures sh all be developed and practised regularly  in accordance with the Minister ial 
Order No  01 of 17/05/2012 . 
4.6 Drinking  water  
4.6.1  Drinking points shall not be loc ated in sanitary accommodation.  
4.6.2  Any appliance used to cool drinking water shall be regularly inspected, tested and maintained to ensure 
water is not contaminated.  
4.6.3  Where unsafe water is provided for use in industrial processes or for fire protection, effective 
precautions shall be made to prevent  human consumption.   
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 4.6.4  Precautions are required to ensure that drinking water supplies are not contaminated by any proces s 
or activity in the workplace.  
4.7 Maintenance  and calibration  of equipment  
4.2.1  Maintenance  or calibration plan shall be available when required.  
4.2.2  Every employer sh all take all practicable steps to ensure that all facilities are clean and  hygienically 
maintained, fit and suitable for use, and perform to the standard that they are  designed or installed to a chieve , 
and records shall be maintained.  
4.8 Toilets  
Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences sh all be provided for the exclusive use of both males and females 
engaged or employed in or about the place of work.  
4.9 Fire precautions  
4.9.1 The Management shall  ensure that the facility and all its work areas comply with fire safety 
requirements. Requirements include the number, type, and location of fire extinguishing devices, alarms, and 
evacuation systems and installations.  
4.9.2 The employer shall ensure that  employees are suitably trained in the use and operation of portable or 
other fire fighting equipment provided at the place of work.  
4.9.3 Control precautions sh all be required in workplaces in which there are processes or materials which in 
the event of a  fire are liable to burn with extreme rapidity, emit poisonous fumes or cause explosions . 
4.9.4 Precautions sh all include the display of safety warning signs, for example , those prohibiting smoking or 
the introduction of naked flames or any other source of ignition into those parts of the place of work . 
4.9.5 All fire fighting equipment, apparatus and warning signs sh all be regularly checked and maintained  and 
records shall  be kept . 
4.9.6  Fires are classified as:  
a) Class A – Fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles;  
b) Class B – Fires involving flammable liquids;  
c) Class C – Fires involving gases;  
d) Class D – Fires involving metals, for example, aluminium, magn esium, sodium; and  
e) Class K – Fires involving cooking oils.  DRS 354: 2017  
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 4.9.7  The materials available for fire fighting have to be appropriate for the type of fire likely to be encountered. 
Table 1 is a general guide and specialist advice may be necessary for particula r situations.  
Table 1 — Classification  of fire  fighting material/ equipment  
S/N Class  
of fire  Suitable fire fighting material /equipment  
1.  A Water, Foam, multi -purpose powder extinguishers  
2.  B Foam  
3.  C Dry powder, but seek specialist advice. In some instances it may be better to leave fire 
burn until fuel may be cut off  
4.  D Specialist fire fighting issue  
5.  F Fire blankets  
4.10 Hallway signs, colour coding and signalling  
Appropriate warning signs sh all be provided in areas where hazards are identified . These signs sh all be 
positioned to ensure visibility to all those who w ork in, or come into, the area.  
4.11 Safe entry and exit  
4.11.1 Entry and exit sh all be provided throughout the workplace. All access and exit routes sh all be free of 
obstructive material and properly maintained. Safe access sh all allow all persons, including the disabled, to 
move through the entire establishment easily and safely and while performing their regular tasks. Marked aisles 
and hallways facilitate the identification of access ro utes.  
4.11.2 Floors sh all be level, obstacle -free, and slip -resistant. All doors and other means of entry and exit in the 
worksites sh all be kept unlocked and free from any obstacles while there are workers present. If the doors must 
be locked for security  reasons, they sh all be able to be opened from the inside without a key to ensure a quick 
exit at any time . 
4.12 Proper storage of hazardous materials  
4.12.1 Employers shall ensure that every container in a place of work which holds any material or substance 
that is corrosive, irritant, toxic, radioactive, explosive, or otherwise capable of endangering the safety or health 
of any person who may come into contact with it is suitable for the material or substance being held, and where 
required, approved for such s torage.  
4.12.2 Such materials or substances sh all be safely and securely stored; clearly labelled and, where 
necessary, containers containing incompatible materials and substances sh all be properly isolated from each 
other.  
4.12.3 Material safety data sheets (MSDS) sh all be available in each workplace for all stocks and appropriate 
training and protective clothing /equipment provided.   
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 4.13 Storage of materials  
4.13.1 Employers sh all take all reasonable steps to ensure that al l goods, materials, substances and 
equipment in workplaces are so stacked, stored, secured and kept that they do not constitute a danger to 
persons in their vicinity, in the event of an earthquake or during the course of daily operations.  
4.13.2 All workers who are responsible for stacking, storing, securing, or keeping or removing any goods, 
materials, substances, or equipment shall be fully trained in safe methods of doing so.  
4.13.3 Where manual stacking or storage is appropriate, work methods shall be designed to ensure that 
individual loads are not excessive, to avoid injuries. 
4.13.4 Where machinery such as forklifts are used, particular attention shall be made in terms of operator 
training and machinery maintenance.  
4.14 Protective  clothing and e quipment  
4.14.1 Employer shall  provide for workers who are engaged in any process or activity that  involves a risk of 
bodily injury to them, or a danger to their health, the protective clothing and equipment necessary to afford them 
reasonable protection a gainst that risk or danger . 
4.14.2 Protective clothing sh all be considered as the last option where engineering or  management controls 
cannot completely eliminate or isolate the hazard at source . 
4.15 Protection from harmful and noise control  
All employers shall take all practicable steps to effectively manage the hazards associated with excessive noise. 
The maximum levels of noise that people can safely be exposed to are set out in Table1 of RS 236.  
  DRS 354: 2017  
7                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Levels of acceptable risks  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Categories of ventilation  
S/N Category of ventilation  Definition  
1.  Natural ventilation  Refer to intentionally designed passive 
methods of introducing air from outside to a 
space without the use of mechanical system  
2.  Mechanical ventilation  Refer to system that uses mechanical 
means such as fan to introduce outside air 
to a space. This includes positive pressure 
ventilation and balanced system that uses 
both supply and exhaust ventilation  
3.  Mixed mode ventilation (hybrid 
ventilation  Uses both  natural and mechanical proceses  
 
 
 
 DRS 354: 2017  
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 Bibliography  
[1] Ministerial Order No 02/17/05/2012 No 02/17/05/2012 determining  conditions for occupational health and 
safety  
[2] Guidelines for the Provision of Facility and General Safety and Health in Commercial an d Industrial 
premises , October 1995, New Zealand  
[3] RS EAS 12: 2014 Portable water — Specification  
[4] ISO 6385 : 201 6 Ergonomics principles in the design of work system  
  DRS 354: 2017  
ICS 13.100  
 
 
©RSB 2017  All right s reserved