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Long road job: one unit mid-site or one at each end?

Brad L.asked 0 viewsConstruction & Job SitesConstructionHow manyStandard unitPlacementService frequencyOsha 1926 51

We've got a road utility job stretching about a quarter mile along a county road. Crew of around eighteen most days for six weeks. OSHA-wise we're past the one-toilet threshold, so I'm looking at whether one standard unit in the middle is enough or whether we should put one near each end so nobody is walking that far in the heat.

Truck access is fine along the shoulder. Both ends have level gravel spots. Middle of the job is tighter because of parked equipment.

Does walking distance matter as much as headcount for a linear site, or do most crews just park one unit where the lunch trailer sits and call it done? Also curious if two units means two service stops on the same day or if they usually route them together.

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Marcus B.Chicago, IL

Put one standard unit at each end of the quarter-mile job site. OSHA 1926.51 requires one toilet for a crew of 18, so a single unit in the middle technically meets the minimum. But on a linear site, the walking distance matters for crew efficiency and safety, especially in the heat. A quarter-mile round trip for a bathroom break is a significant loss of work time. The crew will use the closer unit more, which will fill the holding tank faster and require more frequent service than if the usage was spread out. Placing a unit at each prepped gravel spot also avoids the tight equipment area in the middle. The rental company will almost certainly schedule both units for service on the same day. They route the vacuum truck to stop at both locations in one trip, which is more efficient for them. Two units on a six-week job will cost more than one, driven by the additional monthly rental rate and the extra service stop, but the productivity gain for the crew is worth it.

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