An improved remote site and offshore welfare unit, hoisting apparatus, method and components

Abstract

A welfare unit 1 such as a toilet, shower or storage facility has an enclosure defining a unitary body 2 with an access door 7 and means for attaching the enclosure / welfare unit to a lifting hoist. A

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the installation to and retrieval from remote sites, such as festival fields and construction sites, of welfare units and particularly to the provision of such units at offshore installations and remote or inaccessible locations, including conflict and disaster zones. As it is essential to load and unload welfare units from transportation vehicles, each unit must include means by which it can be lifted. Most all welfare units are adapted to be moved by lifting, tilting or hoisting. In many instances tine-receiving slots are provided in a base or base platform to facilitate the use of a forklift or trolley, however, there are limited circumstances in which such are available or can be used across the terrain or at the remote location. Similarly, tilting of a welfare unit to allow it to be dragged or walked across a surface has limited general application and the weight of the unit is often a significant factor specially where there are full water or foul tanks adding to the overall weight to be moved. Again, the nature of the terrain is often problematic. Hoisting is therefore the preeminent mechanism by which welfare units are deployed and recovered, although terrain and remote location continued to be factors for the use of most all lifting and hoisting apparatus. The act of hoisting, however, necessitates a structural integrity which often adds considerably to the weight and capital cost of welfare units. There is also a need for welfare units to be robust, durable and stable. There are many additional -2-requirements, including ease with which they can be serviced, cleaned and / or sterilised, depending on the use to which the welfare unit is put. Where additional weight due to water or effluent is present, distortion of the structure (and therefore the integrity of the seal to a water or foul tank) must be avoided. The loading and unloading of equipment and personnel to coastal and offshore installations including wind farms provides the most significant challenges. Accordingly, the invention relates also to the installation or deployment and recovery or servicing of welfare units and most particularly toilet facilities at such remote locations. The term “welfare unit” as used herein is directed primarily to an enclosure housing a toilet often colloquially referred to as a portable toilet or Portaloo (Registered Trade Mark of Portakabin Limited) but the term extends also to shower cubicles, changing rooms and storage facilities, including lockers. The scope of the invention however is not intended to be so limiting and should be taken to include any enclosure adapted to be deployed to remote locations and hoisted or otherwise elevated during it positioning at or recovery from a site. This is particularly relevant where the deployment or recover weight may be significant more than that of the unit when empty and applies equally to toilet cubicles with full effluent or foul tanks as it does to enclosures such as storage lockers or tool and equipment stowage units. The term “cubicle” as used herein is intended to indicate a unit or construction made for single occupancy and which is adapted to be arranged with additional units into a row of identical units or into a pod where the units are arranged in a back-to-back configuration (in pairs or in rows) or where access (via a door) is offset from an adjacent or linked unit. The term “facility” is used interchangeably hereinafter depending on the noted requirement of, for example, toilet, shower, changing or storage unit needs. As the offshore sector evolves, there is a greater need for welfare units in remote locations and with that need comes additional compliance requirements, particularly relating to health and safety. Often compliance is overlooked in the provision of welfare units and the present invention seeks to address such omissions. Background to the Invention It is a well-established requirement to provide toilet facilities particularly for the public at outdoor functions, such as music festivals, and for site workers on building or infrastructure construction sites. In many instances, further facilities such as showers, changing rooms and storage lockers may also be required. As the locations for which facilities are required are usually remote and are often required only for set short-term intervals (making the construction of permanent facilities economically unviable), there is an ongoing requirement for light, robust, reuseable and relatively inexpensive solutions. Furthermore, as the toilets often require the confinement and eventual removal of additional weight, whether in the form of human waste, water which has been treated or has detergents or chemical additives therein (and cannot be disposed of at the remote location), there is an additional requirement for the cubicles to be able to support such additional weight, particularly when being moved or hoisted. There is extensive prior art relating to static and modular welfare units and to there being replaceable foul tanks, however, these disclosures have a dearth of detail regarding the integrity of the unit structure, particularly when hoisting. Japanese Utility Model Patent Publication No. 1-102305 discloses a welfare unit having a base incorporating a foul tank to which four static lifting bolts are attached and to which hoisting ropes or straps are secured. The ropes are passed through guiding holes within a roof cap. In a first illustrated construction, the lifting bolts are attached to the corners of a base place positioned over the foul tank. In a second construction, the ropes or straps are secured to hitching points along the sides of the base of the foul tank and rope channels are defined within the sides of the cubicle enclosure. In a final illustrated construction., static lifting bolts are anchored to the corners of the root cap. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005 036513 to SEKISUI HOUSE KK et al. describes a toilet cubicle having a toilet enclosure securely mounted on a base incorporating a foul tank. In order to give the assembly a more aesthetic appearance, a modular frame is constructed around the enclosure to support a screen. The frame forms a periphery around the enclosure together with a toilet or foul tank on which the enclosure sits. The frame does not provide structural integrity to the cubicle and means are provided to secure the cubicle to the ground by threading straps over the roof of the cubicle and utilising stakes for fixing the straps under tension. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014 079421 to MINORU KASEIKK describes a toilet cubicle having a walled enclosure together with a toilet or foul tank on which the enclosure sits. There is provided a pair of lifting members each having a central bottom plate and side plates to form a substantially U-shaped bracket to engage the bottom of the toilet tank. The side plates are fixed to the side surfaces of the toilet tank and include hooking members to engage lifting ropes or straps which pass though guide apertures along the sides of a roof cap. End loops are shown engaging a hoisting hook. It is an essential constructional feature of all such facilities that they are sufficiently robust to be lifted into and out of position repeatedly without damage or distortion and it is this aspect that has proven to be so problematic heretofore. While it is relatively easy (even manually) to load a small number of empty units (say between six and ten cubicles) onto a flatbed truck or trailer, it is a different proposition when attempting to manoeuvre cubicles carrying stored fluids or materials. In many instances, for convenience, toilet cubicles may be pre-filled with odour neutralising or sanitising chemicals thereby making manual loading and unloading impractical or risking spillage of stored contents. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the quantity of stored fluids, whether at installation or removal of a welfare unit from a site, ought to be minimised to comply with hoisting load restrictions, to ensure the structural integrity of the unit is not compromised and to comply with national, regional and international regulations regarding welfare and safety at work (DIN and Health &Safety Regulations). As noted above, the site requirements may dictate the transport requirement and this is particularly true for costal and offshore locations. Traditionally for oil rig and windfarm installation of these facilities, cubicles are loaded into and secured within shipping containers which are then hoisted onto boats at quayside sites having the necessary container loading cranes. This severely limits the number of locations from which toilet and additional facilities can be serviced and also means that the remote locations require similar equipment to handle the unloading and loading of shipping containers. More often, individual cubicles are transferred from ship to shore and visa versa. As will be well appreciated, the risk of damage to the welfare units is high and the entire process from collection to delivery is both time-consuming and fraught with challenges. The inventor of the present invention has considerable familiarity with the loading and unloading of materials and personnel at remote offshore and costal locations and has identified and provided numerous technical solutions relating to the general art. In UK Patent Application Publication No. 2 472 232 there is disclosed a watercraft with a retractable deployable sponson to assist in stabilising the craft during the loading and unloading of materials and personnel from the deck of the craft. The disclosure relates particularly to transport of maintenance personnel (and consequently their equipment) to offshore wind farms. It was found additionally that the deck area adjacent the sponson position facilitated the use the watercraft to load and unload, directly from a quayside to the deck, items that would otherwise have to be hoisted to and from the deck. The above disclosure was followed shortly by UK Patent Application Publication No. 2 473 490 which builds on the utility of the earlier publication and discloses a watercraft incorporating a platform for docking with a wind turbine. More particularly, the disclosure relates to the docking directly with a transfer station attached to the mast of the wind turbine. The platform facilitates the substantially constant positioning of the craft with respect to the turbine transfer station allowing for safer transfer of maintenance personnel and equipment. A method of transferring crew from a watercraft to another structure using the platform is also disclosed. As the size and number of wind farm installations grow, there has been an increasing need to provide maintenance infrastructure at remote offshore sites or at least to provide a centralised transfer location from maintenance operations may be coordinated. As maintenance crews become larger or are called to attend more frequently, the need for welfare units has grown. Heretofore, the provision and servicing of such units has been arduous and labour intensive, requiring the attendance of vessels having the capacity to carry shipping containers as outlined in the preamble of the disclosures of United Kingdom Patent Nos. 2 567 933 and 2 579 284 (in which the present inventor is also identified). Each of these disclosures relates to the provision of a welfare unit for the offshore sector which is individually hoistable by virtue of its placement within a lifting frame. At each of the upper comers of the lifting frame are fixed brackets within which shackle holes are provided (padeyes) so that a hoisting strap assembly is operatively attached to facilitate lifting of the framed welfare unit. A further problem associated with existing portable toilets where, in the event they are knocked over (whether deliberately or accidentally), the contents of a foul storage or effluent tank can be discharged into the toilet cubicle itself and possibly onto the surrounding area where it may pose a contamination or health risk. The aforementioned UK Patents disclose a suggested solution by providing a sealing means between the toilet bowl and its hinged seat and lid. United Kingdom Patent No. 2 601 896 (in which the present inventor is again identified) is directed particularly to the provision of a toilet facility within a wind turbine tower and presents a cubicle for installation during construction of the turbine tower or for retrofitting thereafter. To obviate the use of conventional cubicles about which hoisting frames must be fitted (such as those disclosed in United Kingdom Patent Nos. 2 567 933 and 2 579 284) there is provided a framework to which privacy panels are mounted, one of which incorporating an access door. As before, hoisting padeyes are provided at the upper corners of the framework to facilitate initial positioning of the cubicle. A replaceable cassette system is provided for the removal of waste. Each of the prior art solutions present disadvantages and technical compromises which have not been successfully addressed in a single solution. One of the most significant issues arising is the empty weight of the subject welfare unit and the lifting capacity of the hoisting mechanism. Where a boat deck mounted derrick or davit is utilised, the lift height becomes critical. In much of the prior art, lifting ropes or strap assemblies add significantly to the overall height at which a davit must operate and may prevent the unit clearing the gunwale or transom. Where a unit is to be lifted to or from a loading platform of a wind turbine, for example, lift height is also a factor which may in many instances be compounded by the presence of safety or guard rails over which the units must be hoisted. Furthermore, lifting ropes and strap assemblies must be certified and inspected regularly. Any damage will necessitate replacement. Where protective frames are added to the units, the overall increase in weight may exceed the lift capacity of smaller hoist mechanism (safe working load), particularly those mounted on vehicles (including boats) where stability may become critical. Additionally, due to the aggressive nature of seawater particularly and weathering generally, units having exposed metalwork and welds are vulnerable to a degradation. It has been observed that some welfare units are formed so as to be recycled rather than serviced and redeployed. However, facilities for recycling rarely have the infrastructure to attend to the process. As a result, units are often disposed of improperly, dumped or put to storage and are replaced rather than recycled as intended. Due to their lack of robustness, their longevity in the field is minimised and this has a knock-on environmental effect. United Kingdom Patent Application Publication No. 2 622 793 (in which the present inventor is identified as the sole inventor) provides a welfare unit which seeks to alleviate the primary disadvantages of the prior art and overcome the structural inadequacies of modular thermoplastic welfare units comprising thin panels secured together (often using pop rivets) and housed within a metal frame. By forming the welfare unit as a substantially unitary body within which frame elements are integrally formed, lifting forces applied via an attachment means, disposed within a roof section of the unitary body, are transferred throughout the body to present a measurable and rateable lifting weight (safe working load). One particular advantage presented by the welfare unit of the 2 622 793 disclosure is the reduction in the overall height of a hoisted welfare unit due to the elimination of lifting strap assemblies, each of which must be certified and inspected regularly. Further advantages and solutions of the disclosure are incorporated herein by reference. Is it been found that constructional aspects of the solution as presented in United Kingdom Patent Application Publication No. 2 622 793 add to complexity and cost of the most advantageous embodiments thereof. As will be readily appreciate from the patent literature, there are many different approaches taken to solving some of the technical disadvantages. Each area presents specific concerns, however, many aspects are common and will be addressed hereinafter. It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements and to provide a load-rateable welfare unit for field and offshore locations which is robust and has enhanced durability. It is a further object of the present invention to seek to provide a welfare unit having additional features which in combination provide superior utility and functionality on location. It is an object of the present invention to provide a welfare unit having high structural integrity at minimal empty weight, for increased safe working load, from a single lift point at a lower hoist height than heretofore. It is a further object of the invention to obviate the use of lifting straps or strap assemblies during hoisting and manoeuvring. Furthermore, by obviating external frame elements, exposure to degradation of fixings, welds and frame components by weathering and corrosion is substantially eliminated. This is an object of the invention to provide a welfare unit that is corrosion resistant and working longevity. The invention is also directed to overcoming the known problem of spillage of collected waste matter, particularly where the welfare unit is or includes a toilet, when the unit is moved, knocked over or recovered from the remote location for emptying, cleaning and reinstatement or redeployment. It is a further object of invention to increase welfare levels within said welfare units by providing improved waste retention (anti spillage means) and mitigate substantially the ingress of foul odours to the cubicle. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a welfare unit that is easily hoistable and manoeuvrable, which is not labour-intensive to service or clean and includes service elements which may be replaced by unqualified individuals. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of hoisting and manoeuvring a welfare unit. It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide health and safety compliant toilet and handwash facilities in a remotely located welfare unit. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a welfare unit comprising a substantially unitary body defining an enclosure having an access door and fittings associated with the function thereof, and including a roof section upon which there is disposed attachment means by which the welfare unit is secured to a lifting hoist wherein the attachment means comprises a lifting hanger having a detachable lifting eye threadedly attached thereto, the lifting hanger being secured to the roof section to transfer lifting forces applied via the lifting eye throughout the unitary body thereby to present a measurable and rateable lifting weight (safe working load) of said welfare unit. The rated lifting weight of the enclosure via the lifting hanger is designed to exceed significantly the weight of the enclosure when empty therefore facilitating a load capacity within the enclosure (whether for tools, fresh water, contents of foul tank, etc.) when deployed to or recovered from a remote site. Ideally, the roof section is profiled to receive intimately the lifting hanger which includes a central boss to define a central apex to which the lifting eye is threadedly secured. This arrangement facilitates even transfer of the lifting forces applied through the lifting eye throughout the body of the enclosure via the lifting hanger. More particularly, the positioning of a single lifting eye at the apex of the roof section not only eliminates the need for a hoisting harness assembly but also lowers the overall lift height at which a crane or davit engages the welfare unit. In a preferred construction, the lifting hanger comprising four arms radially extending from the centrally disposed threaded boss to define a single attachment point within which the rateable lifting eye is secured. The radial arms are preferably equal in length. In an alternative construction, radial arms of shorter length are configured to align with comers of the enclosure adjacent the access door. Each arm is longitudinally profiled to match the corresponding profile of the roof section and extends towards the vertical side wall regions of the cubicle. Arms may comprise T-section or I-section profiles and include weight-reduction apertures in the corresponding central depending elements of the sections. Advantageously, the threaded lifting eye bolt receiving boss of the lifting hanger is bonded with the moulding of the domed roof section to provide the required integrity to transfer the lifting forces applied via the lifting eye throughout the unitary body. In a preferred construction, the lifting hanger is integrated within the roof section during the forming of the unitary body defining the enclosure. Preferably, the lifting hanger is laid down and positioned during a moulding process selected from blow-moulding, rotational moulding and fibreglass moulding. Conveniently, the welfare unit is of a monocoque construction in which the enclosure provides all the structural integrity to provide the required load rating. The present invention further provides a method of forming a welfare unit comprising an enclosure having a lifting hanger operably secured to a roof section thereof, the method including: forming by moulding an enclosure body having a rear wall, a pair of perpendicular side walls and a front wall within which a door aperture is formed; forming by moulding integrally with said walls a floor section and a roof section; securing intimately the lifting hanger to the roof section, the lifting hanger having a central threaded boss aligned with the apex of the roof section; forming a compartment within the rear wall of the enclosure profiled to receive a foul tank; fitting within the enclosure components defining the utility of the welfare unit; and -12-mounting a door within the door aperture. Notably, the lifting eye is secured at the apex of the sloped or domed roof. This arrangement ensures that load forces are not focused at the upper corners of a cubicle enclosure as heretofore and that the lifting forces are distributed more evenly throughout the unitary body of the welfare unit. In an optional arrangement, the method includes laying down the lifting hanger in the roof section of the enclosure during the moulding thereof, so that the lifting hanger is integrally formed therewith. Most preferably, the compartment is isolated from the interior of the enclosure so that when a foul tank is in position, ingress of odours from the tank is significantly attenuated. Conveniently, the lifting hanger transfers lifting stresses from the attachment means substantially throughout the body of the unit. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a removable waste water (foul) tank for a welfare unit, the tank comprises profiled edge receivers for engaging correspondingly profiled sliders defined within a receiving aperture within the rear wall of the welfare unit. More particularly, in a welfare unit of the type described hereinabove, the enclosure has formed, within a rear wall thereof, a profiled compartment adapted to receive a foul tank, so sized and shaped as to mate sealingly with an outlet pipe from within the enclosure, the foul tank having incorporated within a mating coupling a unidirectional valve to prevent fluid contents of the foul tank entering the enclosure. Ideally, the foul tank is blow-moulded using a translucent thermoplastics material such as LDPE and includes a moulded “full” or services line indicator therein to provide visual confirmation of foul water level. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a hot water heater for use in a welfare unit of the type of described hereinabove. To be compliant with stored waste water levels, it is essential that grey water waste, that is, water used for hand washing (or for showers where the welfare unit is so configured) is minimised. The hot water heater of the invention is configured to provide a mist of heated water brought to washing temperature within 3 to 5 seconds., allowing for a hot water rinse of 10 to 20 seconds. To facilitate the objectives of the invention and provide compliant hand washing facilities within a toilet cubicle, a wash hand basin of the requisite dimensions is provided with a fixed spout having a fine mist nozzle. A pump is used to convey water from a replenishable or replaceable reservoir into a water heater where it is electrically heated to a predetermined temperature. Rapid heating is accomplished using a combination of 12V components including a high wattage battery pack and low-voltage heating elements. Advantageously, the battery pack comprises a lithium-ion pack similar to a vehicle starter pack, allowing for rapid heating of the heating elements and corresponding heating of the relatively low volume of water being pumped through a cylindrical heater body having an internally coiled flow path. The battery pack may be combined with an accumulating circuit comprising one or more capacitors to facilitate rapid heating of the heating of the heating elements. The heated water is presented at the sink via a misting nozzle which provides sufficient back pressure against the action of the foot pump to balance heat transfer to the water and low volume throughput of water yet providing a sufficiently rinsing mist of water to ensure adequate hand washing within a period normally associated with the average hand wash, that is, between 10 and 20 seconds. As a direct consequence, a lower volume of water is required for handwashing between each service interval and less grey water is produced to go to the limited volume foul tank. In a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a toilet seat for securing to the toilet bowl of the welfare unit as described hereinabove, the toilet seat having a seat portion and a lid portion, hingedly coupled in a standard configuration, the lid portion being provided with either a magnet or ferromagnetic element positioned to engage with a corresponding ferromagnetic element or magnet disposed within the rim of a toilet seat, whereby upon the lifting of the lid, the toilet seat is ordinarily conveyed to an open position, that is, out of position for standing urination. This arrangement obviates requirement for a separate urinal within the cubicle, which is often provided for ease of maintenance and cleaning arising from the propensity of male users not to lift the seat portion before standing urination. If the default configuration is that the lid portion is closed after use (or prior to flushing), the seat portion will be conveyed with the lid portion to its open position by a user unless that user deliberately separates the seat from the open lid and closes the seat portion to its normal position resting upon the rim of the toilet bowl for seated use. This arrangement reduces the incidence of seat fouling, minimises toilet paper wastage, improves general hygiene and reduces odours associated with an exposed urinal within the cubicle. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, an exemplifying embodiment of welfare unit comprising a toilet cubicle together with illustrations of supplementary components adapted for use therewith to provide a health and safety regulating compliant welfare unit in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figures la and lb are schematic perspective views of prior art arrangements of welfare units comprising toilet cubicles suitable for hoisting by lifting apparatus; Figures 2a to 2c are schematic perspective views of a prior art toilet cubicle, U-shaped hoisting bracket and a base mounted foul tank; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective elevation of a prior art construction of welfare unit comprising a toilet cubicle retained within a frame on which a camouflaging or aesthetically pleasing cover is mounted; Figure 4 is a schematic front elevation of an exemplifying prior art welfare unit in side-by-side comparison with a welfare unit of the present invention to illustrate the height advantage achievable; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a monocoque welfare unit of the invention; Figure 6a is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 5 with the door of the welfare unit in an open position and Figure 6b is a detailed view of an inner latch mechanism adapted for disability compliance; Figures 7a and 7b are top and bottom perspective views respectively of a lifting hanger; Figures 8a to 8d are schematic sectional detailed side and front perspective views of an integral frame hanger formed within the roof section of the unitary body, to which an eyebolt is removably secured to the central boss thereof; Figures 9a to 9e are side and rear views of the toilet foul tank; Figure 10a and 10 b are a schematic illustration and a circuit diagram of a hot water heater for supplying a hand wash basin provided within he cubicle; Figures Ila and lib are front perspective elevations of a toilet bowl on which a magnetically coupled seat and lid are mounted; and Figure 12 is a front perspective elevation of flushable toilet mounted on a pedestal within the cubicle and having an elevated foot platform Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to the drawings and initially to the illustrations of prior art welfare units which exemplify some of the inherent disadvantages associated with previously prevented welfare unit solutions. In Figure la, there is shown (from Japanese Utility Model Patent Publication No. 1-102305) a welfare unit comprising a cubicle having a toilet outlet to a ground-engaging foul tank through a base plate. On the top of the cubicle is a roof cap having guiding holes at each comer to accommodate lifting ropes which are secured to static lifting eyes fixed to the base plate. In an additional embodiment (not shown), the lifting eyes are fixed to the roof cap. In each instance, hoisting is conducted via lifting ropes attached to the four eyes. Venting of odours from the cubicle is facilitated by a vent stack. In Figure lb, a welfare unit comprises a toilet cubicle which is attached by bolts to a base mount incorporating a step and foul tank. A frame is mountable around the cubicle on which a screen is hung for privacy protection, as detailed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005 036513. Neither of the above disclosures include a hand washing facility. As illustrated in Figures 2a to 2c, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014 079421 also discloses a welfare unit adapted for hoisting via lifting ropes each of which are secured through one end of a pair of U-shaped brackets which pass under a base plate within which there is a releasable foul tank. Each rope passes through a guide bracket on or adjacent a roof cap of the welfare unit cubicle and attaches to a hook of the hoisting apparatus or crane. It will be seen that the hoisting point represented by the hook is significantly above the top of the roof cap adding between one third and one half of the total height of the welfare unit to the required clearance that must be achieved by the hoisting apparatus. Although the foul tank is releasable, the cubicle must be removed from the base to access the tank. Figure 3 shows a welfare unit mounted on a frame for the purposes of camouflage or aesthetic appearance. No consideration is given in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2021 0238879 to the lifting of the welfare unit in its frame. This is in marked contrast to the disclosures of United Kingdom Patent Nos. 2 567 933 and 2 579 284 in which a rateable lifting frame is provided. As exemplifying of the prior art and described in detail in UK Patent No. 2 567 933 there is shown a toilet cubicle secured within a lifting frame having a base plate and a plurality of comer uprights welded to a top frame which is provided with shackle loops or padeyes to accommodate a lifting strap assembly which presents a centrally disposed lifting point. Typically, the frame is made from 50mm tubular aluminium stock to save on the overall weight and to obviate the weather proofing required with other stock materials. To support the weight of the toilet cubicle, a base plate of approximately 10mm thickness is required and profiled aluminium brackets are provided to secure the cubicle thereon. To form a single hoisting point, at the top of each frame upright a triangular gusset plate having a drilled padeye (to 16mm) to accept a safety shackle (rated at 2 tonne), is welded to the upright and the corresponding upper frame elements. To connect the shackles to a central lifting eye, an assembly of (0.6 m, 2 foot) webbing straps is provided. Of the major disadvantages associated with the prior art arrangement, the frame construction requires skilled assembly which is subjected to a lift test by an accredited body which requires recertification annually. The test is carried out to provide a safe working load (SWL) of 1000kg [1050kg], The testing does not obligate the user to quantify the potential loads that may be added to the total weight of a toilet cubicle with a full foul tank and fresh water source. Additionally, the webbing straps must be tested regularly as they are exposed to mishandling and extreme environments. It should be noted that with a frame height of 2.35m and purpose-made padeyes, when the four-point sling is added, it is another 0.8m (80 cm) to establish the overall hook height (that is, approximately 25% higher than the cubicle height). Furthermore, for rigidity at mid height along each upright, a bumper frame is provided around three sides allowing opening of a toilet access door. The horizontal frame (mid height) tubes stand prouder of the frame establishing a 1,25m maximum depth / width. Web lifting straps are certified in the same manner as the lifting frame. Each welfare unit weighs approximately 160kg when prepared for deployment and they can hold a maximum of 300 litres (approximately 300 kg) of waste. The above referenced volume of 300 litres exceeds significantly the maximum allowance to comply with more recent limits imposed under health and safety compliance regulations, as will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow. The clamps that hold the units are profiled aluminium intermediary brackets that hold the base to the welfare unit by carrying the weight of the unit of the base plate and clamping the unit to the plate using a profile bracket in each corner. The frame is then subj ected to a lift test by an accredited DNV (Det Norske Veritas). Having DNV class type approval builds confidence and demonstrates that the system has been assessed to industry leading standards. Certification is required annually and may involve non-destructive testing of each of the welds on the exposed frame. On both sides of the frame there are two triangular gussets welded to the mid height bumper frame to allow the units to be bolted or connected together. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee and that there are certain inherent duplications in structure when combining a toilet cubicle or other welfare unit within a (rated) frame. For example, the toilet system of United Kingdom Patent No. 6 201 896 also features four purpose-made padeyes for coupling to a strap or sling assembly. As will be seen from the height comparison illustrated in Figure 4, the welfare unit of the present invention has a single attachment point 4 in common with the disclosure of United Kingdom Patent Application Publication No. 2 622 793. A swivel hoist ring 5, secured at the apex of the sloped or domed roof 30 to an integrally formed lifting hanger provides a single lower level hoist coupling, thereby obviating the requirement for multiple attachment points. The lower lift height also offers additional advantages in handling, lifting and safety. This is particularly relevant for circumstances where clearance and the height to which a -19-hoisting crane or davit may lift the unit. The welfare unit of the invention will now be described in more particular detail with reference to Figures 5, 6a and 6b. The welfare units may comprise a shower or changing facility, a storage locker or a toilet cubicle 1 as exemplary of the use to which such units are employed and to which the present invention is directed. As noted above, and particularly when located at coastal and offshore sites, units are exposed to harsh and corrosive conditions and, despite their clear necessity, are often treated with contempt. The welfare unit of the present invention is designed as a unitary body 2 with a monocoque style structure having no exposed welds, joints or metal parts, save for the single attachment point 4 within which a swivel hoist lifting ring 5 is secured. The lifting ring may be galvanised or painted to protected it from corrosion or may be made from a material, such as stainless steel, known to have a long service life in such environments. The unitary body 2 is formed using one of a number of preferred moulding techniques (as discussed in more detail below) to present a tough, resilient exterior with enhanced UV protection. An access door 7 is located in an (ideally framed) aperture and has a peripheral sealing lip 8 to overlie the door aperture which may include a strip of neoprene foam tape or a recess-engaging profile for enhanced weather resilience and draught exclusion. Optionally, a rubberised trim strip may be provided to engage a corresponding lip on the access door or door aperture. Along one edge of the door, hinge mouldings 9 are provided, each having locator pins (not shown) adapted to engage corresponding receivers positioned within the unitary body adjacent the door aperture. Along the opposite edge, a latch mechanism 13 is provided within a moulded recess 14, the latch mechanism having a handle 15 so sized and shaped for Disability Discrimination Act (or equivalent) compliance and is adapted to engage the internal edge of the door aperture, as detailed in Figure 6b. Magnets 16 may be provided along the inner edge of the door or adjacent the latch mechanism to prevent an unlocked door being opened by winds. The traditional metal spring closure mechanism may be substituted using shock cord or similar to facilitate adjustable door closure tension, provide smoother operation and obviate corrosion. Also shown in Figure 6b is a toilet T mounted on a plinth or pedestal P and including a manual flush mechanism F to activate recirculation of chemically treated waste water. Where space or location allows, a freshwater flush may be replenished from a refillable reservoir (not shown). The lower edge of the door aperture includes a stepover threshold (similar to a bulkhead aperture) to serve both as a means to prevent ingress of rainwater and, should there be any inadvertent or deliberate fouling of the interior, potentially noxious matter or contaminated water is constrained within the cubicle. A flooring pad comprising a non-slip fibregrid composite is provided. In the preferred construction detailed below, anti-spillage and odour control is discussed further. At each corner of the unitary body 2, a moulded manoeuvring hand aperture 17 is formed exposing a frame element (over which a protective, grip-textured sheath is applied) to define a handle 18. A pair of dolly wheels 21 are mounted to the rear of the cubicle 1 as illustrated in Figure 9d. The dolly wheels 21 allow the cubicle to be tilted and rolled for positioning. Larger dolly wheels allow for easier movement over grid flooring or softer surfaces. Floor level vents 23 and overhead vents 24 in the roof section of the cubicle allow for natural circulation of fresh air and the prevention of odour accumulation within the cubicle. The placement of the foul tank as detailed hereinbelow prevents foul tank smells from entering the cubicle and obviating the previous necessity for a vent stack. Illumination within the cubicle may be provided by LED light fittings optionally powered by a solar panel. The monocoque structure provides a means to eliminate entirely the external lifting frame by making the welfare unit as a whole liftable and certifiable. The utilisation of a single attachment point 4 at the apex of a domed roof section 30 of the unitary body, into which standard rated central lifting eye 5 (ideally in stainless steel for the harsh offshore environment) is locked, means that only a visual inspection may be needed to pass annual certification requirements. As the lifting eye 5 will often be significantly over-rated (for example, by utilising a widely available 2-tonne rated swivel lifting eye), it will not represent a potential failure point unless exhibiting significant physical damage. Additionally, as the lifting eye 5 is easily removeable, it may be dispatched separately to a certification facility. Due to the moulding techniques employed to construct the unitary body, any stress risers will be visually apparent. As there are no welds employed, the need for weld crack testing is redundant. Figure 7a illustrates a first embodiment of lifting hanger 35 comprising four T-section arms 37 radially extending from a centrally disposed boss 38 defining the single attachment point 4 within which the rateable lifting eye 5 is secured. The upper cross element of each arm 37 is longitudinally profiled to match the corresponding profile of the roof section 30 and extends to meet the vertical side wall region of the cubicle 1. The central depending element of the arm T-section is bonded to the boss 38 at one end and extends at least substantially across the curved profile of the roof. Figure 7b illustrates a second embodiment of lifting hanger 45 which differs from the first embodiment 35 only in that each arm 47 comprises an I-section radially extending from the central boss 48 and includes weight-reduction apertures 49 in the corresponding central depending element. Advantageously, the threaded lifting eye bolt receiving boss 38, 38 of the lifting hanger 35, 45 which is bonded with the moulding of the domed roof section 30 to provide the required integrity to transfer the lifting forces throughout the unitary body. In both embodiments of lifting hanger 35, 45, the radial arms are illustrated as being equal in length. In an alternative unillustrated embodiment, radial arms of inequal length are provided, particularly where shorter length arms are configured to align with comers of the enclosure adjacent the access door. Additionally, the profile of the domed roof 30 allows maximum internal height to be maintained without adding to the total hoisting height and this in turn facilitates the use of the welfare unit of the invention in locations where the hoist height -22-precludes use of the majority of prior art units. The roof dome profile is determined by the moulding technique used so as to efficiently and effectively transfer load stresses evenly throughout the unit, thereby eliminating stress risers within the unitary body. Furthermore, the dome of the roof is designed to be kept as low as possible in order for the welfare unit to be lifted beneath, for example, a turbine davit crane onto a transition platform_without reducing interior space and with its lower overall height allowing a banksman to manoeuvre easily a hoist hook onto the lifting eye 5. Where a welfare unit is to be lifted to or from a loading platform of a wind turbine, the lower lift height allows for additional clearance of guard rails. Overall, the elimination of hoisting strap assemblies and the provision of a single accessible attachment point significantly improves the handling and manoeuvrability of welfare units for general or specialised remote location transport. As stated above, there are several moulding techniques which can be applied to the formation of the unitary body forming the welfare unit of the invention. The monocoque style unitary body may be fabricated from glass fibre composite laid over Corecell - a medium to high density foam core used in boat building (Corecell is a registered trade mark of Gurit (UK) Limited) - using either epoxy resin for high resilience and durability in very harsh environments or a polyester resin to keep costs lower. A UV stabiliser may be added where required. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that references to fibreglass and associated moulding techniques include all those materials and techniques generally covered by the respective terms and include fibre reinforced polymers and composite plastics materials of all suitable varieties, including carbon fibre composites and synthetic fibre composites, including polyaramid fibre composites such as Kevlar (Registered Trade Mark) The lifting hanger 35, 45 may be secured to the roof section 30 of the cubicle 1 using the threaded lifting eye and tie rods attached to dolly wheel support plates to the rear of the enclosure. Further fixing points may be provided should higher SWL be required. In one proposed construction, the formation of the roof section 30 includes the embedding of the lifting hanger 35, 45 within the glass fibre mould after the formation of foundation layers and building additional layers around the arms 37, 47 thereof. A blanking bolt may be provided within the threaded boss 38, 48 to prevent the ingress of fibres or curing resin. The composite glass fibre structure should preferably be vacuum infused. Alternatively, a wet layup technique can be followed by vacuum bagging to draw out excess resin thus reducing significantly the weight over a straight wet layup method. Oven cure would be advantageous to achieve resin strength optimization. In an alternative construction, standard LDPE blow moulding techniques may be adapted to fit to or entrain the lifting hanger which will provide enhanced structural integrity and strength to a manufacturing method normally associated with low cost and often disposable welfare units. In a preferred construction, a rotational moulding technique is used in which the lifting hanger is placed within a mould prior to rotation and injection of the chosen thermoplastics material (normally a high-density polyethylene HDPE). Additional ribbing may be provided along the walls, base and domed roof section. As shown in the sectional views of Figures 8a to 8d, the lifting hanger 35, 45 is entrained within the moulded plastics material and is substantially immune to corrosion. Rotational moulding may increase the weight but given the robustness and potential cost savings over the glass fibre layup technique (which is normally labour intensive) it is a preferred option. Given that the welfare unit may be provided with integral dolly wheels 21 and manoeuvring handles 18, the weight is easier to handle. Traditional units are simply dragged across ground or “walked” over floor surfaces. The base floor may comprise either Corecell (RTM) if a composite is used or an aluminium honeycomb, stainless-steel mesh or a fibregrid composite if a rotational moulding technique is used. Polyethylene terephthalate (also referred to simply as polyethylene [PET, PETE]) is used in the vast majority of rotational moulding applications. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is also highly recyclable. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) may also be used where its flexibility provides advantages over the benefits associated with HDPE. The single point lifting eye 5 of the type as shown, for example, in Figures 8c and 8d negates the requirement of four lifting straps and shackles, which all require individual testing and certifying. The central lifting eye 5 can be directly attached to the hoisting hook of a crane thus significantly reducing the lifting height under a turbine davit. Referring now to Figures 9a and 9b which show a first embodiment of removable foul tank 50 adapted to be housed in a separate compartment C to the rear of the cubicle 1, below and rearwardly of the toilet T. The foul tank has profiled dovetail slots 52 along its side edges to engage corresponding sliders 54 formed within the rear compartment C. A toilet foul outlet 56 is secured to a uni-directional valve coupling (not shown) in the tank 50. Thus, the tank is completely sealed from the cubicle interior. The tank includes an outlet port 58 within which there is provided a leak-proof pressure-relief diaphragm valve which facilitates venting due to gas expansion within the tank. The valve is normally closed to prevent odours from the foul tank entering the cubicle but directs valved releases into the compartment C. This significantly reduces the presence of odours in and around the cubicle. The outlet port 58 of the tank 50 may be capped off for transportation to a sanitising facility. Figures 9c to 9e illustrate a second embodiment of removable foul tank 60 which, as before, is adapted to be slidingly housed within the separate compartment C, sealed off from the interior of the cubicle 1. The tank again has profiled dovetails 62 for reengagement with corresponding sliders 64 along the side edges of the compartment C. The tank includes dedicated moulded grooves 65 to retain lifting straps (not shown) which are advantageously used for lifting and conveying full tanks from site to sanitising facility. The tank 60 is ideally fabricated using a translucent low-density polyethylene (LDPE) through which the content level can be determined. Ideally, there is included a moulded “full” or service line indicator 66 within the rear wall of the tank to provide visual confirmation of foul water level. A retaining bar 67 may be used to secure the foul tank within the compartment 2. The retaining bar extends between reinforcement plates 68 on which the dolly wheels 21 are ideally mounted. The plates 68 distribute a portion of the load when the enclosure is tipped onto the dolly wheels. The retaining bar 67 and plates 68 together may relieve load forces encountered when the foul tank approaches or exceeds its recommended maximum level. In one construction, where the lifting hangers is either of a shortened configuration or fixed to the roof 30 (rather than being moulded within the roof), tie rods (not shown) extending from the rear hanger arms may be secured to the reinforcement plates 68. A service hatch / door 69 may extend partially or fully over the compartment. A level inspection window may be incorporated within a fully extending hatch. In its preferred construction, the foul tank is DIN 16194 compliant, in that the service line indicator 66 is set to 87 litres and the tank has a maximum capacity of 105 litres. Additionally, an initial water supply of 20 litres is provided with an additional 10-litre allowance for grey water from the self-contained hand washing station. Plastic dolly wheels 21 as illustrated in Figure 9d can be mounted in such a manner that they only contact the ground when a handler tips the welfare unit rearwardly so that it can be rolled into position like a sack barrow. Handles 18 are provided on the rear of the cubicle approximately midway up the walls at the rear corners or closely adjacent thereto. The handles can also be used as a convenient point for deck lashing during storms. As the units are relatively lightweight, they are sensitive to winds over Beaufort 4 and a lashing may be provided around the handles 18. Obviously, the swivel hoisting eye 5 at the roof apex may also be used with a through rope for lashing to a deck or other secure point. It will also be apparent to the skilled reader that the handle can be used to secure adjacent welfare units to another. This can be in a simple side-by-side or back-to-back configuration. Additionally, a row of back-to-back units may be secured together to form a block. The units may be secured together by standard zip ties (cable ties) or a spinnaker release type mechanism. Optionally an over-lever latch may be used. A particular problem appreciated with welfare units incorporating or comprising toilet cubicles is the potential risk of spillage from the foul tank. Where toilets are not secured, they can be blown over in high winds and, notoriously at music festivals, they can be deliberately tipped over (occasionally with an occupant inside). While the solution offered in UK Patent Publication No. 2 579 284 provides enhanced protection to foul spills and potential contamination of the surrounding environment, that protection is wholly dependent on the user closing and sealing the lid with a clamping strap to engage the seals provided between the toilet bowl rim, seat and lid. Furthermore, this offers no protection to an occupant using the toilet should the cubicle be deliberately upended. The manual flush mechanism F includes a closure valve opening only during a flush. This prevents any inadvertent spillage from the foul tank through the toilet bowl and does not rely on the action of a present or previous occupant. Consequently, the interior of cubicle is isolated from smells emanating from the foul tank at all times and ensures spill avoidance if the cubicle is subjected to a “knockdown”. Referring now to Figures 10a and 10b, the present invention provides a hot water heater 80 for use in a welfare unit of the type of described hereinabove. To be compliant with stored waste water levels, it is essential that grey water waste, that is, water used for hand washing (or for showers where the welfare unit is so configured) is minimised. The hot water heater of the invention is configured to provide a mist of heated water brought to washing temperature within 3 to 5 seconds., allowing for a hot water -27-rinse of 10 to 20 seconds. To facilitate the objectives of the invention and provide compliant hand washing facilities within a toilet cubicle, a wash hand basin (not shown) of the requisite dimensions is provided with a fixed spout having a fine mist nozzle. A pump is used to convey water from a replenishable or replaceable reservoir into a heating vessel 81 where it is electrically heated to a predetermined temperature. Rapid heating is accomplished using a combination of 12V components including a high wattage battery pack 82 and low-voltage heating elements 83. Advantageously, the battery pack 82 comprises a lithium-ion pack similar to a vehicle starter pack, allowing for rapid heating of the heating elements and corresponding heating of the relatively low volume of water being pumped through the cylindrical heater vessel 81 having an internally coiled flow path 84. The battery pack may be combined with an accumulating circuit comprising one or more capacitors to facilitate rapid heating of the heating of the heating elements 85. The heated water is presented at the sink via a misting nozzle 85 which provides sufficient back pressure against the action of the pump to balance heat transfer to the water and low volume throughput of water yet providing a sufficiently rinsing mist of water to ensure adequate hand washing within a period normally associated with the average hand wash, that is, between 10 and 20 seconds. As a direct consequence, a lower volume of water is required for handwashing between each service interval and less grey water is produced to go to the limited volume foul tank. A foot pump may be used to activate the water heating cycle or a momentary switch provided as a footswitch to activate an electric pump (not shown). A thermal sensor 86 deactivates the heating elements 83 via a relay 87 when the water temperature within the vessel has reached a predetermined threshold. As an additional consideration in respect of efficient use of water and minimising the generation of waste water in the limited volume foul tank, a modified toilet seat -28-and lid is provided so as to obviate the requirement for a separate urinal. Accordingly and with reference to Figures Ila and 11b, there is provided a toilet seat 90 for securing to the toilet bowl of the welfare unit. The toilet seat 90 comprises a seat portion 93 and a lid portion, 95 hingedly coupled in a standard configuration, the lid portion being provided with one of either a magnet or ferromagnetic element 97 positioned on the lid to align or to engage with a corresponding alternative of a ferromagnetic element or magnet 98 disposed within the rim of a toilet seat 93. It will be appreciated that a pair of magnets may be used, however, this is usually unnecessary with the correct selection of magnet and ferromagnetic material. Thus, upon the lifting of the lid 95, the toilet seat 93 is ordinarily conveyed to an open position, that is, out of position for standing urination. As noted above, this arrangement obviates requirement for a separate urinal within the cubicle, which is often provided for ease of maintenance and cleaning arising from the propensity of male users not to lift the seat portion before standing urination. If the default configuration is that the lid portion 95 is closed after use (or prior to flushing), the seat portion 93 will be conveyed with the lid portion to its open position by a user unless that user deliberately separates the seat from the open lid and closes the seat portion to its normal position resting upon the rim of the toilet bowl for seated use. This arrangement reduces the incidence of seat fouling, minimises toilet paper wastage, improves general hygiene and reduces odours associated with an exposed urinal within the cubicle. Finally, with reference to Figure 12, the interior of the cubicle houses the toilet T mounted on a pedestal P on which a manual flushing mechanism F is provided to evacuate the contents of the toilet bowl and charge the bowl for the next flush. The pedestal raises the height of the toilet bowl rim to approximately 565mm to allow for a number of human physiological factors, including a closer bowl for standing urination and for maintaining a non-contact crouching position, should the user wish to avoid using the seat. A heel rail R is optionally provided on the pedestal to allow the user to adopt a health-provider recommended position for bowel evacuation. With the provision of electrical power, additional features may be incorporated. Using solar panels mounted to the domed roof 30, a stored battery pack (and / or the hot water heater battery pack 82) can be trickled-charged to support higher power demands or the panels alone may be used with a smaller accumulator for internal illumination via LED lighting and occupancy indicator LEDs on the door. In one arrangement, the solar panels are accommodated in a protective recess formed in the domed roof during the moulding process. In an enhanced arrangement, solar panels are mounted on a tiltable platform for optimal positioning or automated suntracking. By utilising deep cycle batteries which can be easily swapped out, similar to battery packs used for cordless drills, pumps and fans can improve the ‘welfare experience’ available to the unit user. Marine 24V batteries and 12V deep cycle batteries all provide interchangeable options, particularly with adaptable voltage regulation circuitry. Charging may be provided by on-site power or solar panels to increase service interval. An external mains power hook-up is likely to be available in certain locations including campsites, construction sites, municipal parks and airport long-stay car parks. At more remote locations, such as wind turbine platforms and maintenance platforms, external power may also be available. In such circumstances, multiple welfare units (optionally coupled together) may use a single power reserve linked to external power. This then presents an option for batteries to be stored in a separated pump house having a service operator key access. This is optionally associated with large volume foul tank allowing for the timed emptying of smaller foul tanks located in each toilet cubicle or for the handling of lager volumes of waste water from shower cubicles. An electric gulper pump, designed to manage unmacerated toilet waste and can be run dry without damage, is eminently suitable for moving volumes of waste from cubicle foul tanks to a larger volume specialised receptacle. However, smaller gulper pumps can be used to aid the flush in a toilet cubicle and its operation can be associated with a toilet lid actuated pre wetting of the toilet bowl ready for use. A nano coating applied to the toilet bowl will negate effluent adhering during the flush and its operation is enhanced by pre-wetting. The coating may be provided as a plastics material wrap to line the bowl, replaceable at long service intervals. Each welfare unit may incorporate a variety of remote querying means to provide -30-additional operator advantages. Stock control may be provided by RFID or QR code tags for tracking technologies or associated with 2G (or higher) SIM technologies. Further remote monitoring may be enabled with line-of-sight technology for transmitting status data to an operator base or relay station and to shore from offshore windfarm locations, for example. Advantageously, a welfare unit communication module may be linked to communication apparatus fitted to offshore turbines so as to piggyback on longer range communications installations. A fluid float switch may be used to indicate foul tank levels and provide a remote monitoring function where required. Where power is available, an LED can indicate that the cubicle is “Out of Order” and thereby suggesting to use another facility. Similar level indication can be provided for fresh water supply. In embodiments with a communication module, a signal can be generated to indicate tank levels or cubicle swapout status. Particular emphasis has been placed on addressing specific aspects of welfare units comprising a toilet cubicle, as they embody many of the known problems inherent in remote location and offshore deployment of welfare units generally. There are particular concerns regarding boats and deck lifting equipment such as gantry cranes, general cargo cranes, derricks and davits, etc for moving loads to and from the deck of a boat or ship. Due to the extreme environment, components may wear down at an increased rate, requiring regular repair and maintenance. The present invention attempts to address the majority of these issues. Loads should be kept below the safe working load (SWL) of the crane or hoist and ideally significantly overrated with respect to the maximum rated lift weight of the welfare unit. Hoist height, where the lifting apparatus hooks to the lifting eye, is kept to a minimum. Each welfare unit should be certificated for its maximum load weight so that crane or hoist operators can easily evaluate potential tilting and ensure proper distribution of the load when multiple welfare units or additional / other cargo is on board. The whole philosophy of the welfare unit of the invention is one that is lightweight for easier handling offshore and giving an increase in strength and substantial weight reduction over the toilet-in-frame model. Additionally, features introduced to meet compliance regulations have not heretofore been observed in welfare units. It will be further appreciated by the skilled reader that the present invention and the moulding techniques employed make the welfare units particularly suitable for inturbine installation, that is where, for example, a toilet cubicle is included in the turbine build or retrofitted. Welfare units (and particularly toilet cubicles) of the invention have wide utility beyond offshore and remote location installation. There is wide military application for rapid deployment of welfare and storage facilities. Further application can be found in refugee centres and disaster relief where the provision of discrete toilet facilities may prevent spread of water-borne diseases and those associated with poor sanitation, such as dysentery, typhoid and cholera. With the appropriate delivery vessel, the welfare units of the invention may also be deployed at river banks and costal quaysides for further transportation inland. Single or multiple units (secured together as considered hereinabove) may be hoisted into emergency relief zones by helicopter or into such regions where there is no road access, for example, mountainous or extensive highly forested areas. Many welfare units, particularly those available only to select users or for lockers and storage of tools, materials and equipment on-site, require limited access. Key and coin-operated doors are one option for lockers, showers and toilets for general use. Coded access may also be provided on door release latches. For certain applications where personal safety or incidences of vandalism and theft are prevalent, 4G, web-enabled or networked IP cameras may be installed. Welfare units of the invention may also be adapted for use as remote delivery lockers for postal drop off, campsite storage, caravan park external storage bins, tool sheds and garden storage bins. Where there are advantages in distinguishing one type of welfare unit from another or segregating applications, colour-coding of welfare units may be employed. Although a direct solution is the application of surface paint, dyes can easily be added to fibre glass resin and to thermoplastics material prior to moulding the unitary body of the welfare unit. For military applications, camouflaging of welfare and storage units is of particular relevance. At the opposite end of the utility spectrum, the use of fluorescent or UV-reactive dyes may be found useful in such 5 places where there is limited light or where light intrusion must be kept to a minimum. At camp sites or festivals, it may be useful to colour-code male and female toilets or shower facilities. Colour-coding of storage facilities may also be useful to categorise materials or separate, for example, potentially hazardous materials from those that are non-reactive or benign. 10 It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A welfare unit comprising a substantially unitary body defining an enclosure having an access door and fittings associated with the function thereof, and including a roof section upon which there is disposed attachment means by which the welfare unit is secured to a lifting hoistwherein the attachment means comprises a lifting hanger having a detachable lifting eye threadedly attached thereto, the lifting hanger being secured to the roof section to transfer lifting forces applied via the lifting eye throughout the unitary body thereby to present a measurable and rateable lifting weight (safe working load) of said welfare unit.

2. A welfare unit as claimed in Claim 1, in which the roof section is profiled to receive intimately the lifting hanger which includes a central boss to define a central apex to which the lifting eye is threadedly secured.

3. A welfare unit as claimed in Claim 2, in which the lifting hanger comprising four arms radially extending from the centrally disposed threaded boss to define a single attachment point within which the rateable lifting eye is secured.

4. A welfare unit as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the threaded lifting eye bolt receiving boss of the lifting hanger is bonded with the moulding of the domed roof section to provide the required integrity to transfer the lifting forces applied via the lifting eye throughout the unitary body.

5. A welfare unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lifting hanger is integrated within the roof section during the forming of the unitary body defining the enclosure.

6. A welfare unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lifting hanger is laid down and positioned during a moulding process selected from blow-moulding, rotational moulding and fibreglass moulding.

7. A welfare unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which thewelfare unit is of a monocoque construction whereby the enclosure provides all the structural integrity to provide the required load rating.

8. A method of forming a welfare unit comprising an enclosure having frame elements integrally formed therein, the method including:forming by moulding an enclosure body having a back wall, a pair of perpendicular side walls and a front wall within which a door aperture is formed;forming by moulding integrally with said walls a floor section and a roof section;providing within each wall and floor and roof section reinforcing frame elements;forming a means for attachment centrally within the roof section to facilitate hoisting of the unit;fitting within the enclosure components defining the utility of the welfare unit; andmounting a door within the door aperture.

9. A method of forming a welfare unit as claimed in Claim 8, in which the compartment is isolated from the interior of the enclosure so that when a foul tank is in position, ingress of odours from the tank is attenuated.

10. A method of forming a welfare unit as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the lifting hanger transfers lifting stresses, applied via a lifting eye threadedly secured to the boss, substantially throughout the body of the unit.

11. A welfare unit of the type claimed in Claim 1, in which the enclosure has formed, within a rear wall thereof, a profiled compartment adapted to receive slidingly a foul tank, so sized and shaped as to mate sealingly with an outlet pipe from within the enclosure, the foul tank having incorporated within a mating-35-coupling a uni-directional valve to prevent fluid contents of the foul tank entering the enclosure.

12. A welfare unit as claimed in Claim 11, in which the foul tank is blow-moulded using a translucent thermoplastics material such as LDPE and includes a moulded “full” or services line indicator therein to provide visual confirmation of foul water level.

13. A welfare unit of the type claimed in Claim 1, in which there is provided a hot water heater configured to provide a mist of heated water brought rapidly to temperature, the hot ware heater comprising a pump drawing water from a reservoir into a heating vessel where water is circulated past at least one low-voltage heating element powered via a dedicated source adapted for short-period, high-power delivery of energy to the or each heating element.

14. A welfare unit as claimed in Claim 13, in which to provide compliant hand washing facilities within a toilet cubicle, a wash hand basin of the requisite dimensions is provided with a fixed spout having a fine mist nozzle, the pump conveys water from a replenishable or replaceable reservoir into the water heating vessel where rapid heating of a small volume of water to a predetermined temperature is accomplished using a combination of 12V components including a high wattage battery pack and low-voltage heating elements, whereby a mist of heated water brought to washing temperature within 3 to 5 seconds is presented at the nozzle, allowing for a hot water rinse of 10 to 20 seconds.

15. A welfare unit of the type claimed in Claim 1, in which there is provided a toilet seat for securing to a toilet bowl of the welfare unit, the toilet seat having a seat portion and a lid portion, hingedly coupled in a standard configuration, the lid portion being provided with one of either a magnet or ferromagnetic element positioned to engage with the other of a corresponding ferromagnetic element or magnet disposed within the rim of a toilet seat, whereby upon the lifting of the lid, the toilet seat is ordinarily conveyed to an open position, that is, out of position for standing urination.

Images