OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for Construction Sites
The exact toilet counts OSHA requires on job sites, what counts as a toilet, and what we recommend so units stay usable all week.
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How 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, and 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers for 200 or more. The full text is on osha.gov.
| Workers | Minimum facilities |
|---|---|
| 20 or fewer | 1 toilet |
| 20 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers |
| 200 or more | 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers |
Does OSHA require handwashing stations on job sites?
OSHA 1926.51(f) requires washing facilities where workers handle paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides or other harmful materials. The facilities must be near the work and kept sanitary, with soap, water and towels. Many general contractors require a handwashing station on every site regardless.
A two-sided handwashing station covers about 2 toilets.
What does a crew actually need beyond the OSHA minimum?
For a 40-hour week with weekly service, plan 1 standard unit per 10 workers. The OSHA minimum lets 20 workers share 1 toilet, but a unit holds about 250 to 300 uses, so 20 workers fill it in 2 to 3 days. Add units or a second weekly service.
Worked example: a 14-person framing crew needs 1 unit under OSHA; we recommend 2 (14 ÷ 10 = 1.4, rounded up).
What about mobile crews and farm crews?
OSHA's construction rule does not apply to mobile crews that have transportation to nearby toilets. Farm field work follows a separate rule, 29 CFR 1928.110: 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility per 20 workers, within a quarter-mile walk.
See farm porta potty rental for field setups. This article is general information, not legal advice.