Porta Potty Forum
Log inAsk a question

OSHA 1926.51: 85 workers, how many toilets and urinals?

Hector V.asked 3 viewsConstruction & Job SitesOsha 1926 51UrinalService frequencyConstruction siteUnits per person

For 85 workers on a construction site, OSHA 1926.51 requires at least three standard portable toilets and two portable urinals. The OSHA standard specifies that for 20 to 199 workers, you must provide one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers. With 85 workers, you must have at least 85/40 = 2.125 toilet seats and the same number of urinals, so you round up to three toilets and three urinals. However, when both toilets and urinals are provided, OSHA allows one urinal to substitute for one toilet seat in the required number of facilities. This means you can provide three toilets and two urinals to meet the requirement for five total facilities.

Planning for the crew
Rent a cluster of three standard units and two portable urinals. Place them on level ground with good truck access for the vacuum truck. For a long-term site, schedule weekly service as the minimum. In Phoenix heat, consider a mid-week check for paper and deodorizer.

Accessibility is mandatory
The ADA 5 percent cluster rule applies when you have multiple units. A cluster of five units requires at least one ADA-compliant unit. Include it in your count. The ADA-compliant unit provides the required turning space.

Beyond the minimum
The OSHA count is a legal floor. For crew satisfaction on an 8 to 10-hour shift, I always add one extra standard unit. It cuts down on line complaints, especially after breaks. With that, your order becomes four standard units, two urinals, and one ADA-compliant unit.
Post your specific site details if you want a check on the setup.

1 answer

Sorted by votes
0
Ray M.Dallas, TX

OSHA 1926.51 requires three toilet seats and three urinals for 85 workers, but you can substitute one urinal for one toilet seat, so you need three standard portable toilets and two portable urinals. The OSHA construction sanitation standard requires one toilet seat and one urinal per 40 workers for sites with 20 to 199 workers. You round up fractional counts, so 85/40 means 2.125, which becomes three toilets and three urinals. The standard allows substitution, so three toilets and two urinals meets the requirement for five total facilities.

Rent a cluster of three standard units and two portable urinals. Place them on level ground with clear truck access for the vacuum truck. Schedule weekly service visits for pumping, deodorizer recharge and paper restock. In high heat or heavy use, add a mid-week check.

The ADA 5 percent cluster rule applies when you have multiple units. A cluster of five units requires at least one ADA-compliant unit. Include one ADA-compliant unit in your count to meet accessibility requirements.

The OSHA count is the legal minimum. For crew satisfaction on a full shift, consider adding one extra standard unit to reduce wait times. That would make four standard units, two urinals and one ADA-compliant unit.

Your answer

Log in or create a free account to answer this question.

Related questions