High-rise site: what's the backup plan if the service truck is late?

Question

We're on a 40-story build in Phoenix with 175 workers on site daily. The porta potty setup is a cluster of eight standard units and one ADA-compliant unit on a graded dirt pad. Our rental company does a weekly service visit with their vacuum truck. The access road is good, but traffic or a truck breakdown could delay them.

A one-day delay in this heat means the units get heavy and the deodorizer fades fast. The crew complains, and it's a real problem. I need a backup plan that doesn't involve me calling the rental company every hour.

Do you have a clause in your rental contract for missed service? Should we keep a spare unit on site just for this? What's the best way to handle it with the crew when a service is late?

Ray M. · Answer

Yes, a missed service clause is standard in rental contracts, but you need a practical backup plan for a high-rise site. Your contract likely states that a blocked unit or missed service due to truck issues is billed as a service call, but it doesn't solve the immediate problem. For 175 workers, OSHA 1926.51 requires at least five units (one toilet seat per 40 workers), so your nine-unit cluster is above minimum but tight in heat. Weekly service is the norm, but Phoenix heat accelerates odor and fill rate. Keeping a spare [standard portable toilet](https://portapotty.forum/glossary/standard-unit/) on site is smart if you have space; rotate it into use when one unit gets heavy, and the rental company can service it on the next visit. Talk to your crew: explain that service delays happen, point them to the cleanest units first, and have the foreman call the rental company once for an ETA instead of everyone calling. A good operator will prioritize a high-rise site because missed service means more work later.

High-rise site: what's the backup plan if the service truck is late?

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