Our porta potty keeps getting vandalized. What can we do?
Our jobsite standard unit has been tipped over twice this month. It's a long-term rental for a 50-person crew on a 6-month commercial build. The…
2answers
124views
Deb K. replied
Construction & Job Sites
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 sets the minimum number of toilets on a construction site by crew size, and a rental company services the units on a schedule you agree in the contract. This category covers the OSHA table, weekly versus twice-weekly service, high-rise and crane-liftable units, hand washing, winter operation, vandalism and what a monthly site rental includes.
147 questions
Winter 2026: Will porta potty antifreeze work below 20°F?
We have a 40-story high-rise going up in Chicago, with 120 workers on site daily through January. The ground is paved but exposed, and the…
2answers
108views
Marcus B. replied
Does a framing crew need a hand wash station next to the porta potty? ✓ Solved
For a framing-only crew, OSHA 1926.51 does not automatically require a standalone hand wash station next to the toilet. The washing-facilities…
2answers
90views
Marcus B. replied
Residential remodel crew of about 20: sanitizer on the unit enough, or add a handwash station? ✓ Solved
Add the handwash station. Sanitizer on the unit is not enough for a remodel crew around 20.
2answers
71views
Tyler R. replied
Can a portable toilet be locked overnight at an unattended job site? ✓ Solved
Yes, you can lock a portable toilet overnight at an unattended job site. Use a lock and hasp that does not drill into the door or damage the service…
2answers
71views
Ray M. replied
OSHA porta potty requirements for a construction site: how many toilets per worker? ✓ Solved
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c) requires one standard portable toilet for 1 to 20 workers, one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers for 21 to 199…
3answers
66views
Deb K. replied
High-rise job: how do porta potties get to the upper floors and how are they serviced?
I'm managing a 22-story high-rise project where crane time is a premium. Safety is pushing for portable toilets on every fourth floor to minimize…
2answers
62views
Deb K. replied
How do porta potties work on a job site in winter when everything freezes? ✓ Solved
Rental companies add a brine or non-toxic antifreeze solution to the holding tank during winter service visits to prevent freezing. The antifreeze…
3answers
60views
Marcus B. replied
How often should a construction porta potty get pumped in summer heat? ✓ Solved
Bump the service visit to twice a week while the heat sticks. Weekly is the usual baseline on a quiet lot, but a dozen people in August will cook the…
2answers
56views
Hector V. replied
High-rise unit on the 20th floor: how is waste pumped down?
A high-rise unit is serviced from the ground using a dedicated waste line. The waste line is a large-diameter pipe, usually 4 to 6 inches, that runs…
1answer
56views
Deb K. replied
Can we lock our jobsite porta potty overnight so neighbors stop using it? ✓ Solved
You can lock a standard unit overnight, but you must coordinate the lock with the rental company for the service visit. The driver needs to open the…
2answers
55views
Deb K. replied
Does OSHA require a handwash station on a construction site, or just toilets? ✓ Solved
Yes, OSHA requires a handwash station on a construction site for crews working with materials that leave residues not removed by sanitizer alone. The…
2answers
55views
Deb K. replied
OSHA 1926.51: Do weekend security guards count toward the headcount?
Weekend security guards count toward your OSHA 1926.51 headcount. The standard applies to any employee present at the site, including…
1answer
55views
Carl D. replied
Job wrapped early: do I pay the full month for the porta potty?
I had a standard portable toilet on a residential addition job for a crew of seven. The rental was on a 28-day billing cycle, and the unit was picked…
2answers
53views
Deb K. replied
How many porta potties per person does OSHA require, and does the rule change by trade? ✓ Solved
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c) requires one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers for a construction crew of 20 to 199 people. For your framing crew of…
2answers
53views
Ray M. replied
Should I lock the jobsite porta potty overnight? ✓ Solved
Most residential framing crews I know lock the unit overnight when the lot sits empty. An open standard unit on a driveway pad is an invitation for…
2answers
52views
Deb K. replied
Winter jobsite: how do you keep a porta potty from freezing between service days? ✓ Solved
The best method for a winter jobsite is to request the rental company use an antifreeze solution in the standard portable toilet holding tank. This…
2answers
52views
Ray M. replied
Soft ground after rain: how do you keep a jobsite porta potty level and pumpable? ✓ Solved
The rental company should place a portable toilet on a stable base, but you must provide one on soft ground. A standard unit weighs about 200 pounds…
2answers
52views
Deb K. replied
Vandalism on a jobsite porta potty. Who pays for the repairs?
Someone tipped over our standard portable toilet over the weekend. The unit is on a residential construction site for a six-week project with a crew…
2answers
50views
Ray M. replied
Does OSHA require a handwash station on a construction site, or just toilets?
Our crew of 35 is on a six-week foundation job handling concrete and treated lumber daily. The safety auditor flagged us for not having a handwash…
2answers
50views
Marcus B. replied
Do subcontractors count toward our OSHA porta potty headcount? ✓ Solved
Every worker present on the job site counts toward the OSHA 1926.51 headcount, regardless of which company employs them. The OSHA standard applies to…
2answers
48views
Jake W. replied
Weekly porta potty service is not keeping up. When should we go twice a week? ✓ Solved
Weekly service is the baseline for a crew of 18, but you should switch to twice-weekly service immediately. The heat is driving the problem. A…
2answers
48views
Ray M. replied
Porta potty keeps getting vandalized on our open site. What do operators do about it?
Our home build is on an open, unfenced lot in a semi-residential area. We have one standard portable toilet for a crew of about ten guys, and it's…
2answers
48views
Deb K. replied
Crew jumped from 8 to 22 mid-build. When do we need a second porta potty? ✓ Solved
You need a second portable toilet now that your crew has reached 22 people. The OSHA construction standard 1926.51 requires one toilet for 20 or…
2answers
48views
Hector V. replied
Are porta potties required on construction sites, even for a two-person remodel crew?
I'm a residential remodeler in Chicago, and my crews are usually just two guys. We're often working on occupied houses where the homeowners let us…
2answers
47views
Hector V. replied