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Haunted corn maze: do the scare actors inside need their own porta potty?

Nina R.asked 2 viewsEvents & WeddingsUnits per personPlacementEvents and weddingsSpecial event permitEvent planning

We're setting up a haunted corn maze for Halloween, and I'm working through the porta potty plan. The maze itself will have a main bank of standard units for the public, but I have a specific question about the crew. We'll have 10 scare actors stationed deep inside the maze for five-hour shifts. They won't be able to easily leave their posts to use the public restrooms near the entrance.

They'll be on uneven ground along the paths, and a service truck could only get close to the maze perimeter. I'm wondering if we need to place a dedicated unit somewhere inside the maze for them. If so, would a basic standard unit suffice, or should we consider something with a sink like a deluxe unit since they might want to wash up? What's the standard practice for providing facilities for staff who are isolated from the main guest area?

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Priya N.Tampa, FL

Yes, you need a dedicated portable toilet inside the maze for the scare actors. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 requires one toilet for 20 or fewer workers, and your crew of 10 qualifies. Since they cannot leave their posts, an isolated unit is necessary for compliance and practicality.

A standard unit would suffice for basic needs, but consider a deluxe unit if handwashing is preferred. Deluxe units include a sink and mirror, which help with hygiene and costume adjustments. Place it on level ground along the maze path, ensuring it's accessible to actors but not visible to guests to maintain the scare atmosphere.

Servicing will require coordination: the vacuum truck can only reach the perimeter, so plan for a service visit before or after hours when the maze is closed. Weekly service is standard, but for a five-hour event, one pre-event delivery and post-event pickup might work, depending on the rental company's policies. Always confirm placement and access with your provider to avoid missed service fees.

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Dave P.Madison, WI

Put one crew unit at the edge of the maze, not in the middle of it. We ran actors in a maze two Octobers back and the version that worked was a standard unit parked on the perimeter right where the vacuum truck could reach it, with a crew only cut path through the stalks leading to it. Nobody had to walk past guests, and the driver never had to carry a hose into the corn.

A few things we learned the hard way:

  1. Mark the crew path with something actors can find in the dark, like reflective tape on stakes. The maze looks totally different at night.
  2. Hang a battery lantern inside. Actors in costume and contacts are fumbling enough already.
  3. Set up a break rotation so two actors are never off post at the same spot. That matters more than the walking distance.
  4. Face paint and fake blood are the real reason to want water. A standalone sink next to the unit did more for us than a deluxe would have, and it kept the makeup mess out of the toilet.

Ten actors on five hour shifts is a light load for one unit. Just get it serviced on a day the maze is closed so the truck isn't backing up through your parking area at showtime.

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