Restroom Facilities & Sanitation

Ryskless Talks:

OSHA states that employers must provide adequate and sanitary toilet facilities for employees, I thought common sense and dignity did too. The intent of this is 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. 

I personally built this restroom in April of 2023, after being on a project not willing to provide hand cleaning stations or any kind of hand sanitation to the hard-working craft professionals busting their backs all day for the company. This restroom is in my home and is a reminder to myself that regardless of where/what I’m doing I have the right to use a restroom and be able to clean my hands prior to eating my food or just in general during my time.

The more people there are at a project, facility, or event the more restrooms there should probably be. Recently, I heard that there were 600 folks standing in line to use a restroom at some event. Wow, if 600 folks are in line to use a bathroom, there clearly aren’t enough restrooms. Unless everyone at once decided to use the restrooms, in that case your company may need a culture assessment.

Bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, and other health effects can become serious health issues, if not initially with time. Which is why we keep a cleaning agent to spray the seat down prior to using the facility. OSHA has written great and simple requirements for how many restrooms a working area needs to have and how to treat these facilities to the below standards.

Suicide among the construction industry is the highest. There are tons of contributing factors. Start somewhere little and at least try to make a difference to people's mental health. Show the people that you genuinely care for them. People are stressed every day from something, the last thing they want to do is show up to work and not be able to clean their hands.

More information on restrooms and sanitation requirements at 29 CFR 1910.141 or 29 CFR 1926.51, and 29 CFR 1928.110.

#Ryskless #Workplace #Safety #Littlethingsmatter