Is Your Jobsite Following OSHA's Portable Toilet Requirements?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) creates standards that ensure a safe and healthful workplace for employees of all industries.

Sufficient restroom facilities for employees are among the essential sanitation requirements for any workplace.

To comply with OSHA regulations on construction sites without convenient access to plumbing or actual restrooms, portable toilet rentals are the norm.

What are OSHA toilet requirements?

For many reasons, having a portable restroom on a construction site is essential. Productivity and employee health are improved and are also mandated by law. Depending on the crew size, OSHA requires a specific number of restrooms close to work sites. Consider renting portable restrooms for your next construction site.

Minimum Quantity of Portable Toilets

The minimum quantity of portable toilets required on a job site is based on the requirement for an "adequate and readily accessible" facility. At the job site, you must supply the following:

• 20 or fewer workers: 1 Facility
• 20 or more workers, but fewer than 200: 1 urinal and toilet seat per 40 workers.
• 200 or more employees: one urinal and one toilet seat for every 50 workers.

What is the Definition of "Readily Available" Portable Restrooms?

A clean, hygienic restroom that is simple to access within 10 minutes qualifies as readily available. A bathroom must be cleaned at least once or twice a week to be hygienic and clean.

All on-site workers are expected to have easy access to restroom facilities, which must also adhere to the following standards:

• Ensure restrictions, like requiring key access, do not cause delays.
• Employees must be given the freedom to leave their work locations for restroom breaks whenever necessary.
• Employers may not impose arbitrary limitations on how employees use the restroom.

Provide Basic Functions

A construction company must provide the following crucial services:

• Toilets with separate compartments with doors and walls that are "sufficiently high to ensure privacy" define privacy
• Equipment and ventilation in the portable toilet must be adequate
• Sufficient lighting inside the restroom and around the facility must be present, especially for nighttime jobs
• Doors that can be locked from the inside when a restroom is not meant to be used by more than one person at a time

The availability of a separate women's restroom is another factor to consider. OSHA does not explicitly state that you must offer this amenity to female employees. The employer is not required to provide separate restrooms for each sex.

Handwashing Station

OSHA mandates that companies set up a handwashing station or facility "at or adjacent to each toilet facility" for health reasons. You must make sure the station has the following amenities:

• hot and cold water running while using soap or disinfectants
• a hygienic way to wash and dry your hands (paper towels, towel dispenser, or hand-drying air blower)
• instructions to "thoroughly wash hands and face" after working with paints, coatings, or potentially hazardous/toxic materials

Proper Servicing

OSHA mandates that portable toilets be maintained regularly to maintain a sanitary environment. To help you meet the minimum requirement, remember that a dirty toilet does not meet the criteria for an “adequate and readily accessible" toilet.

To guarantee that portable toilets are "maintained in a clean, sanitary, and serviceable condition," the business must "establish and implement a service schedule."

What Toilet Types Are OSHA-Compliant for Construction Sites?

The restrooms listed below are acceptable for temporary construction sites per OSHA Standard Number 1926.51:

• Privies
• Chemical toilets
• Recirculating toilets
• Combustion or incinerating toilets

Additional Considerations for a Safe and Healthy Working Environment

To prevent the adverse health effects that could occur if restrooms are not easily accessible when needed, employers may also want to take into account the best practices listed below:

• Toilets should be within ten minutes of the workers' assigned work area. Employers should provide more facilities when work locations are in inaccessible areas such as high-rise construction sites or other situations where sanitary facilities are more than 10 minutes away.
• Additional restrooms may be required if several employees use the restroom simultaneously, such as during scheduled breaks.
• Restroom facilities must be kept clean to meet workers' health and sanitation needs. This entails regular cleaning, waste removal, and supply replenishment, including toilet paper.
• Facilities need to be well-ventilated, well-lit, and located in a safe area.
• Additionally, employers must provide trash cans, hand towels or other drying equipment, soap, and water or antibacterial hand cleaners.

Consequences of OSHA Violations

Failure to adhere to the earlier requirements may result in financial penalties, as with any violation of OSHA standards. The fine for a first offense can reach $15,625 for every infraction, and repeat offenses could result in fines of up to $156,259 per violation. Subsequent violations for the same offense could incur fines of the same amount each day the problem remains unfixed. Following OSHA's recommendations is not only hygienic but also prudent financially.

Comply with OSHA Requirements!

A crucial aspect of a construction site manager's job is adhering to safety and sanitation regulations by providing porta-potties on-site. By lowering the likelihood of delays or shutdowns, this effort will not only support the well-being of your employees but also help you stay on schedule and complete projects by the deadline.

Fuzion has everything you need to comply with OSHA requirements so you can confidently manage the construction site.

On the construction site, we'll make sure you have the correct number of restrooms per person. We can help you stay compliant and avoid penalties! Call 970-539-4201 or request service to get started today.