OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for Jobsites and Farms
The exact federal rules for toilets and handwashing on construction sites and farms, with tables and examples. New Mexico follows these through its OSHA-approved state plan.
Call or text a real person(575) 215-2324How many toilets does OSHA require on a construction site?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(c), Table D-1, requires 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers, 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers for 20 or more workers, and 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers for 200 or more workers.
| Number of employees | Minimum facilities (Table D-1) |
|---|---|
| 20 or less | 1 |
| 20 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 200 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers |
Source: OSHA 1926.51, Sanitation. Mobile crews with transportation to nearby toilets are exempt from the on-site rule.
Does OSHA require handwashing on a jobsite?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51(f) requires washing facilities that are near the worksite and suitable for the work when workers handle paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides or other harmful materials. The facilities must have water, soap and towels or air dryers, and be kept sanitary.
Our recommendation, beyond the legal minimum: put a handwashing station beside every jobsite unit during summer and on sites with concrete, coatings or fuel work.
What does OSHA require on farms?
OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110 requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility for every 20 field workers, located within a quarter-mile walk of each worker. The rule covers farms with 11 or more hand-labor field workers, and toilets are not required when field work lasts three hours or less that day.
Source: OSHA 1928.110, Field sanitation. In the Tularosa Basin this covers pistachio, pecan and vineyard crews; see Tularosa.
Who enforces these rules in New Mexico?
New Mexico enforces job safety through its own OSHA-approved state plan, run by the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department. The state plan must be at least as effective as federal OSHA, so the federal counts above are the baseline.
Check current state rules with the NMED Occupational Health and Safety Bureau. This guide is not legal advice; confirm requirements for your project with your safety officer.
How should jobsite toilets be serviced and placed?
Jobsite toilets must be kept sanitary and supplied, which in practice means weekly pump-out, cleaning and restocking at minimum, and more often on large crews. Place units on level ground near the work, with a clear path for workers and for the service truck.
Weekly service is included in every jobsite rental.
More osha guide questions
Does a standard porta potty count as one toilet seat and one urinal?
A standard unit has 1 seat and 1 urinal, so one unit covers each '1 seat and 1 urinal' in Table D-1.
Do women on the crew need separate toilets?
OSHA requires toilets for each sex unless toilet rooms are single-occupancy and lockable from inside. Standard porta potties are single-occupancy with an inside lock.
Are portable toilets allowed if the building has bathrooms?
Crews may use permanent toilets in the building when they are available to them and meet the count. Many owners prefer that crews use porta potties to protect finished bathrooms.
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