Can I move the porta potty myself once it is delivered?

Question

I rented a standard portable toilet for my crew at a house remodel. The crew is four guys, working eight-hour days for three weeks, no food on site. I gave the rental company directions to place it on the north side of the driveway, level ground, good truck access for pumping.

I was at work when they delivered. I got home and found the unit on the south side, behind a stack of lumber. The spot is level, but the service truck will have to drive over a soft patch of lawn to get to it, and the lumber will be in the way.

Can I move the unit myself, or do I have to call the company to come back and reposition it? If I can move it, what is the safe way to do it without damaging the unit or the holding tank?

Ray M. · Answer

Do not move the portable toilet yourself. Call the rental company and explain the misplacement. They will send a driver to reposition it correctly.

A standard unit weighs about 200 pounds empty, but the holding tank can hold 50 to 70 gallons of waste, making it heavy and unstable if moved improperly. Tilting or dragging it risks cracking the tank, damaging the door or hinges, or spilling contents. The rental agreement almost certainly prohibits customer moves due to liability and damage risks.

Your setup is correct for the crew size: four workers for three weeks falls under OSHA 1926.51, which requires one toilet for 20 or fewer workers. Weekly service is standard, but the placement must allow truck access. The south side location, with soft ground and lumber obstruction, will cause missed service visits. The driver needs clear, firm access within about 25 feet to park the vacuum truck and run the hose. Repositioning now avoids future service issues and extra charges for blocked units.

Can I move the porta potty myself once it is delivered?

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