From restaurants to plumbers to portable restrooms, most businesses today have to contend with some form of government regulation or compliance requirements. Similarly, most construction sites have certain requirements in terms of providing facilities to their workers. The facilities provided have to meet specific criteria and be serviced every so often to keep up with the OSHA regulations. So, how do you ensure your construction site is doing all it can to provide workers what they need and also comply with the legal standards?
Let’s have a look.
Who is OSHA and How Are They Involved with Potties?
It was about five decades ago that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was created by Congress. The idea was to create a cohesive organization that was responsible for maintaining safety standards and ensuring quality across multiple industries to protect workers, consumers, and companies. They provide and enforce standards through training, outreach, education, and assistance.
OSHA works under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor and answers to the Secretary of Labor, which forms an essential part of any President’s Administration.
OSHA and Regulations on Construction Sites and Porta Potties
Because OSHA’s responsibility is to keep workers in safe conditions, they have created regulations and guidelines on worksites and construction sites and the number and kinds of facilities they are to require workers.
Before OSHA, construction workers and contractors would have to get creative with how they answered nature’s call. If the job site did not have designated restrooms workers would have to improvise and use nature’s bushes, trees, or nearby businesses.
OSHA Requirements Include Immediately-Available Facilities
Part of OSHA’s standard is to have facilities that are “immediately available.” For some construction sites in a large area or out in the middle of nowhere or on a highway or lonesome road, this means installing porta-potties or portable restrooms on the site itself. The idea behind this requirement is to prevent workers from “suffering adverse health effects” from having to put mother nature’s call on hold.
Requirements also call for:
- The minimum number of toilet facilities depending on workers on site
- Enough fasciitis to avoid long lines and waits
- Separate facilities for each sex
- Prompt access to the facility
- Handwashing stations
- Servicing schedule
Keep Your Construction Site in Compliance
#1 Minimum Requirement of Restroom facilities
The number varies depending on the size of your site and the size of your workforce. Keeping enough facilities to go around will not only keep you in compliance but will keep your workers happy and productive. Nobody wants long lines forming and interrupting workflow and making workers wait to answer the call.
For example:
- If your site has 20 employees, the minimum is 1 facility
- If your site has 20 employees or more but less than 200, consider one toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers
- If your site has 200 employees or more, the requirement is about 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers
#2 Basic Function and Characteristics
A construction site can’t just throw a bucket behind a curtain and call it a facility. This requirement speaks to the necessary functions that the facilities need to provide.
- Facilities should provide facilities that provide privacy. That is separate compartments with a door and walls with high enough walls that will guarantee privacy.
- The facility should have proper ventilation
- The facility must contain adequate lighting to ensure safety and full vision
#3 The Handwashing Station
The OSHA requirements also require that the facilities be equipped with a station for handwashing. Providing adequate amenities to maintain hygiene is a part of safety and health protocols. The station must have:
- Running hot and cold water
- Soap or disinfectants (hand sanitizer gels)
- A way to dry hands (paper towel dispenser, air blower)
- Written instructions with handwashing guidelines after handling certain materials, chemicals, or products
#4 Frequent and Stated Servicing Schedule
In addition to the above, a servicing schedule is also required. You don’t want a porta-potty dropped at your site and never serviced until 5 weeks later. These facilities should be maintained and serviced.
Depending on how many workers are on-site and how frequently, the requirement may be once or twice a week.
- Keeping toilets in sanitary conditions requires frequent cleanings
- Requirements ask for a clear servicing schedule that states how often the facilities are cleaned
- All toilets should always be in a clean and serviceable condition
Get a Professional to Take Care of Your Site’s Sanitation Needs
Sarabia’s Portable Jons has been in business for many years in El Paso. Not only do we deliver quality portable toilets and facilities, we also provide all the requirements to keep workers happy and your company in compliance.
Have a construction project that needs portable restroom facilities? Call the porta-potty experts today.
