Wind gust knocked our job site porta potty on its side overnight. Who cleans it up and how do we stop it happening again?

Question

Came in this morning and the unit on our utility job was lying on its door side in the dirt. We had gusts all night and it sits on an open lot with nothing around it. Tank was maybe half full so you can imagine the mess inside and out.

A few things I'm trying to figure out before I call the rental office:

1. Is the cleanup and spilled waste on us or on them? Nobody pushed it, it was the weather.
2. Can my guys stand it back up, or should we leave it alone until the driver shows?
3. What do other crews do to keep these upright on windy sites? Stakes, straps, sandbags, tucking it against the conex?

We still have about six weeks left on this job and the forecast keeps calling for wind, so I'd rather fix this once.

Deb K. · Answer

The cleanup responsibility falls to the rental company, but you should call them immediately to report the spill and coordinate. They handle hazardous waste disposal per health department rules. Do not attempt to stand it up yourselves; the unit is heavy, the contents are hazardous, and you risk further spillage or injury. Leave it for the vacuum truck driver.

To prevent tipping on windy sites, use staking and tie-downs. Drive two or three metal stakes into the ground at the unit's corners and secure it with ratchet straps. Sandbags placed around the base also help. Avoid leaning it against a conex or other structure, as that can damage the unit and doesn't allow proper service access. A rental company can usually provide stakes or recommend anchoring methods for your site conditions.

Wind gust knocked our job site porta potty on its side overnight. Who cleans it up and how do we stop it happening again?

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