Published in September 2026, ISO 45010 includes guidance on making period products such as tampons and pads available in workplace washrooms.
Menstrual health and menopause are part of life for many employees. How employers approach these issues can be seen in everything from conversations with managers to working conditions and washroom facilities. Published in September 2026, ISO 45010 is the first international standard to provide employers with specific guidance on supporting menstrual health and menopause in the workplace.
The standard is intended for organisations of all sizes and across all sectors. It explains how employers can better accommodate employees’ needs relating to menstruation and menopause, covering both a supportive workplace culture and practical measures.
Employees want support and clear procedures
An international survey by the British Standards Institution (BSI) highlights employees’ expectations of their employers. [1] Of the 6,494 women surveyed across seven countries, 68% felt that employers should play a role in supporting employees with health issues related to menstruation and menopause.
Around seven in ten wanted clear processes and procedures for providing that support. At the same time, six in ten said they had never heard their employer raise the subject of menopause support. These findings suggest a gap between employees’ needs and what is discussed at work. Employers can help close that gap by taking those needs seriously and making sure support is consistently available.
Practical guidance for the workplace
ISO 45010 covers workplace culture, policies, manager awareness and workplace design. It also addresses practical adjustments and ways to assess whether the measures introduced are working.
Privacy is another key consideration. Support needs to be offered sensitively: employees should be able to discuss their needs while deciding for themselves which personal information they share.
The recommendations can be incorporated into existing occupational health and safety arrangements. The standard complements established approaches and also provides guidance for small and medium-sized businesses.
Making period products available in washrooms
Washroom facilities offer a practical place to start. Toilet paper, soap and paper towels are generally taken for granted. Access to period products also deserves consideration.
When someone’s period starts unexpectedly, or they run out of the products they have brought with them, having tampons and pads close at hand can make a difference. Providing them in the washroom allows people to get what they need discreetly, without having to ask colleagues or reception staff.
For employers, this raises a straightforward question: are period products available where people need them, and is someone responsible for keeping them stocked?
SanTRAL® Plus FHU 15: Easy access to period products
OPHARDT Hygiene’s FHU 15 provides a simple way to make tampons and pads available in shared washrooms.
Three separate compartments accommodate tampons in sizes S and M, as well as pads. Users can help themselves to the products, while viewing windows make it easy for staff to check stock levels and refill the dispenser before supplies run out.
The robust, lockable stainless steel housing is designed for long-term use. Designed and manufactured by OPHARDT in Germany, the FHU 15 is available in four finishes to suit different washroom interiors. It also comes with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Keeping products available
Providing a period product dispenser is one practical way to support employees. To keep products consistently available, employers also need to assign responsibility for checking stock levels and refilling the dispenser.
ISO 45010 gives employers an opportunity to review how they approach menstruation and menopause at work. Improving washroom facilities is one practical step within that wider effort.
At OPHARDT Hygiene, we believe washrooms should provide easy access to the hygiene products people need. The FHU 15 helps organisations keep tampons and pads reliably available, right where they are needed.
Find out more about the SanTRAL® Plus FHU 15 on the OPHARDT Hygiene website.
Source: [1] British Standards Institution (BSI) (2025). Lifting the Second Glass Ceiling. International survey of 6,494 working women across seven countries. Available at: BSI — Lifting the Second Glass Ceiling (accessed 26 October 2026).
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