Every construction job site requires restrooms, and more often than not, portable toilets are the best and most practical way to do this. Very often, job sites are not located near alternative facilities, and by failing to place units in safe and suitable locations, you may place yourself at risk of lawsuits, a significant loss of productivity, and even fines.
Let’s take a look at factors you should consider when placing portable toilets at your construction site.
Convenient Placement
When choosing how to place your portable toilets, it is easy to fail to consider making it convenient for your workers. But, by placing units in a location convenient for your workers to access near the work area, you can prevent a lot of lost time, thus boosting your workers’ productivity.
Choose a location close to the work and easy for workers to access, but make sure it is safe and uncluttered as well. It is important to make sure your workers don’t have to walk on or around materials and tools to get to the toilet. This can lead to injuries and damage to the items as well.
Out of Harm’s Way
Portable toilets should always be placed conveniently but far enough away from the action to ensure safety. Workers should never be at risk of exiting the toilet into the path of vehicles and heavy equipment. This not only guarantees safe entry and exit but also prevents accidents that could tip them over.
Provide Lighting
If your job site is running outside of times with good lighting, then it is important to place them in an area with artificial lighting. Without this, workers will not be able to find them, and it may present a liability if injuries occur as a result.
Provide Privacy
Convenience is important, but no one wants to do their business in the middle of where everyone is working. This makes it important to consider privacy when choosing where to place portable toilets. Try to place them nearby but with a little shelter from the rest of the worksite. Often placement next to trees or buildings can provide a great shelter.
Restrict Outside Access
Your portable toilets should be reserved solely for you and your workers. This not only makes service planning much easier, but it can also reduce your liability considerably if someone gets injured trying to use one of your site’s portable toilets.
One of the best ways to do this is to place your units within existing fencing or to erect fencing around the units. This will prevent most passersby from attempting to use them.
Place on a Secure Surface
Oftentimes ground conditions on a construction site are less than optimal for stable placement of a portable toilet and are frequently changing. However, placement should always be on a solid, level surface that is located a safe distance away from any shifting soil.
This will prevent the units from becoming unstable and tipping, but it may require frequently shifting the units as work progresses.
Ensure Service is Convenient
The units should be placed in a location that is convenient for regular servicing. This applies to portable toilets located on the ground level as well as those located on an elevated location. Elevated units should be located so that they can be easily lowered for servicing.
Obey Legal and Industry Regulations
You may find that your local and state government may have restrictions regarding the placement of portable toilets. Additionally, certain industries have requirements you will need to adhere to, so it is always best to check if any of these apply to you.
Final Thoughts
These may seem like a lot of things to consider, but with a little thought and consideration, it is quite manageable. It is important to always place portable toilets in a safe and secure location that is convenient for workers and servicing. By doing this, you can boost worker productivity, save yourself from unnecessary fines, and potentially prevent lawsuits.
Contact Us
For additional information on where to place portable toilets at your construction site or to rent units, call Flush Services at (978) 778-8000 and connect with us on Facebook.
