OSHA Requirements for Portable Restrooms on Job-Sites

construction workers working on a house.

Do you know the OSHA rules and regulations for portable restrooms? If you are a construction job-site manager, agriculture site manager, etc., it is imperative to know and abide by them! Patriot Portable Restrooms walks through the OSHA regulations for portable restrooms.

OSHA requires employers to provide all workers with sanitary and accessible restrooms to ensure that workers do not suffer adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not sanitary and/or are not available when needed.

Employers must provide at least the minimum number of portable restrooms depending on the number of employees they have. Restroom access frequency needs may vary significantly from worker to worker, and it may be affected by medications, fluid intake, air temperature and other factors.

The OSHA breakdown for portable toilets to number of employees is the following:

One toilet per gender for 1 to 15 employees
Two toilets per gender for 16 to 35 employees
Three toilets per gender for 36 to 55 employees
Four toilets per gender for 56 to 80 employees
Five toilets per gender for 81 to 110 employees
An additional toilet per gender for each additional 40 employees
After 200 employees, the number drops to one per 50

Employers must:

Allow workers to leave their work locations to use a restroom when needed.
Provide an adequate number of restrooms for the size of the workforce to prevent long lines.
Avoid imposing unreasonable restrictions on restroom use.
Ensure restrictions, such as locking doors or requiring workers to sign out a key, do not cause extended delays.

Employers may need to be flexible in developing procedures to ensure that workers have access to toilet facilities as needed. Employers with mobile workers must provide readily available transportation that provides prompt access (less than 10 mins) to restrooms if they are not available at the work location. Toilets for farmworkers must be located no more than a quarter mile from the location where workers are working on similar findings. Also, when work stations require constant coverage (e.g., production lines and bus drivers), employers may implement a system for workers to request relief as long as there are sufficient relief-workers to assure the wait is not unreasonably long.

Types of Portable Restrooms that Meet OSHA Requirements

Patriot Portable Restrooms has various portable restroom rentals that will meet OSHA rules and regulations:

They all come thoroughly sanitized and fully stocked, ready for use! We have a weekly porta potty cleaning service option for our rentals so that your employees have clean units to use.

OSHA Requirements for Hand Washing Stations

OSHA requires hand washing stations in or near the portable restrooms. If hot and cold water aren’t available, then a hand sanitizer is required to be mounted in or near the portable toilets too. And if the porta potty includes soap and water, then it must also include single-use hand towels or a hand-drying air blower. If your crew members will be exposed to chemicals on the job, you’ll also need a hand washing station in a convenient location. Contact us today and we can provide you with the right number of hand washing stations.

OSHA Sanitation Standards for Portable Restrooms

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has stringent regulations in place to ensure the proper sanitation of portable toilets on job sites. These standards are crucial to protect the health and well-being of workers. OSHA mandates that portable toilets must be regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent the spread of diseases and maintain a hygienic environment. Adequate supplies such as hand sanitizers, toilet paper, and soap should be readily available to promote proper hand hygiene. OSHA’s commitment to enforcing these sanitation standards not only safeguards the health of individuals but also contributes to overall workplace safety and compliance with health regulations.

Contact us for more information today and we can get you a free quote on our portable restrooms, restroom trailers, hand washing stations, and more.

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/restrooms-sanitation