Does OSHA 1926.51 apply to our 25-worker site with a porta potty?

OSHA 1926.51(c) requires one standard portable toilet for a construction site with 25 workers. The standard specifies one toilet for 20 or fewer workers, and one toilet seat plus one urinal per 40 workers for 20 to 199 workers. Your site has 25 workers, which falls into the 20 to 199 range, so one unit meets the minimum requirement if it includes both a toilet seat and a urinal, or equivalent facilities. However, many operators provide a standard unit without a separate urinal, which OSHA may consider adequate as long as it serves the purpose. For clarity, confirm with your rental company that the unit provided is intended to meet OSHA standards for that crew size.

Service frequency matters too. OSHA also requires that toilets be maintained in a sanitary condition. Weekly service visits are typical, but with 25 workers using one unit, you might need more frequent servicing to prevent complaints and ensure compliance. Heat, duration of the project, and usage patterns can increase the need.

Consider accessibility. If this is the only unit on site, it does not need to be ADA-compliant under the cluster rule, but if you add more units later or have workers with disabilities, you must follow the ADA 5 percent cluster rule. For now, one standard unit is legally sufficient for 25 workers, but monitor conditions and service it regularly.

Post your setup details if you have questions, like project length, ground type, or truck access, and we can dig deeper.