Staff lockers are a common feature in UK workplaces, but many employers are unsure whether they are actually required by law. The reality is that staff lockers are not explicitly mandatory in every workplace, but in many environments they are strongly recommended and often expected to meet health, safety and welfare obligations.
Whether lockers are needed depends on the type of work being carried out, the working environment, and what employees are required to store during the working day.
What Does UK Law Say About Staff Lockers?
UK employers have a legal duty to protect employee welfare under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. While the regulations do not specifically state that staff lockers must be provided, they do require employers to ensure suitable welfare facilities are available and that personal clothing and belongings are properly protected where necessary.
Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides further clarity. The HSE advises that employers should provide secure storage where employees need to change clothing, wear uniforms or PPE, or where personal belongings cannot reasonably be kept at the workstation.
In practice, staff lockers are often the simplest and most effective way of meeting these requirements.
When Are Staff Lockers Needed?
Staff lockers are generally expected in workplaces where employees cannot safely keep personal items with them or where specialist clothing is required. This commonly applies to environments such as warehouses, factories, construction sites, healthcare facilities, leisure centres and educational settings.
In these workplaces, lockers help demonstrate that employers have taken reasonable steps to protect employee welfare and maintain a safe working environment.
Staff lockers are particularly important where:
- Employees change into uniforms or protective clothing
- PPE needs to be stored securely between shifts
- Workwear may become wet, dirty or contaminated
- Personal belongings cannot be kept at workstations
Even in office environments, lockers can be beneficial where space is limited or staff commute with bags, coats and valuables.
Health and Safety Benefits of Staff Lockers
From a health and safety perspective, staff lockers provide several clear advantages. By offering dedicated storage lockers, employers can reduce clutter in working areas and keep walkways clear, lowering the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Staff lockers also help:
- Separate personal clothing from workwear
- Reduce contamination risks in regulated environments
- Prevent damage or loss of personal belongings
- Improve organisation and housekeeping standards
These benefits make lockers a practical risk-control measure in many workplaces.
Hygiene and Welfare Considerations
In environments where hygiene is critical, staff lockers play an important role in maintaining clean and controlled conditions. Lockers allow employees to store clean clothes separately from workwear that may be exposed to dirt, chemicals or biological hazards.
Best practice typically involves:
- Locating lockers close to washing and changing facilities
- Using easy-to-clean materials such as metal or specialist plastics
- Providing individual lockers rather than shared storage
This approach supports hygiene standards while improving staff comfort and confidence.
Are Staff Lockers Mandatory in the UK?
In summary:
- Staff lockers are not legally required in every workplace
- They are often required in practice to meet welfare obligations
- They are strongly recommended in environments involving uniforms, PPE or contamination risks
Where employees need somewhere safe, hygienic and secure to store personal items or workwear, failing to provide lockers could be seen as falling short of best practice.
Why Most UK Employers Provide Staff Lockers
Beyond compliance, staff lockers offer clear operational benefits. They help create a more organised and professional workplace, reduce disputes over lost or stolen items, and improve overall staff morale. For many businesses, lockers are a relatively low-cost investment that delivers long-term value.
Choosing the Right Staff Lockers
When selecting staff lockers, employers should consider the working environment, the number of employees using them, and what needs to be stored. Choosing lockers that are appropriate for the setting helps ensure they remain practical, durable and compliant over time.
If you’re reviewing your workplace welfare facilities or considering new staff lockers, Lockershop UK can help. We supply a wide range of staff locker solutions suitable for offices, industrial sites, healthcare and education settings. Get in touch with our team to discuss practical, compliant locker options for your workplace.
Tags: Lockers, Storage Lockers