Construction sites are always bustling, with workers working hard to keep the project on track and on schedule. Portable toilets, like all other necessary pieces of equipment, should be considered one of the essential elements of equipment that every construction job site requires to keep running smoothly, along with tools, materials, and hard workers.
There’s no denying that renting portable restrooms on a construction site benefits morale and efficiency, and what else could be more crucial for keeping the construction process moving forward in a timely manner? On a construction site with no porta-potty, crews have no choice but to take care of business offsite. At some work sites, this might be a convenience store up the street, while on more remote job sites it can mean a lot more travel just to find a toilet. We all know what that can mean: less productivity and higher costs per man-hour of work, not to mention potential liability issues. When you consider the pros and cons of portable toilet rental, having a portable restroom on a construction site simply makes good business sense.
But how do you determine how many portable toilets you need for construction sites? How often will they need to be serviced? Where on the job sites should toilets be placed? Below are some tips for understanding the factors affecting portable toilets for construction sites:
Servicing Portable Toilets
The amount of traffic/use and the length of time for the construction project will determine how often portable toilet servicing is required. To maintain sanitary conditions and meet industry requirements, long-term construction projects will require numerous toilet service visits. Every seven days is the generally recommended time to service and clean toilets. However, this may vary depending on the number of workers on the site (some weeks there may be more than others), as well as the season—summer heat might necessitate more frequent servicing—and usage volume.
Number of People Working on the Project
As a simple rule of thumb: each construction site needs a minimum of one portable toilet for every ten workers. If there are more than 20 workers, 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per every 40 workers is standard. On especially large projects where crew numbers exceed 200, one toilet and 1 urinal for every 50 is the standard. Whenever possible, having a urinal/toilet combination unit onsite is recommended to accommodate a higher volume of use.
Plan for the Layout and Size of the Job Site
For large worksites, rather than placing toilets all in one location, it is recommended that they are conveniently located and easily accessible at various locations around the site. Having toilets strategically placed within the working area reduces the amount of time it takes for crew members working in the far back lot to “take care of business”. Those saved minutes can really add up over the course of weeks and months so proper planning and placement are important to avoid lost time and productivity.
Portable Restrooms on Job Sites are a Good Investment
By offering a restroom on the job location, you may cut down on the distance workers must travel to use a toilet and the time they need to search for an alternative facility since no near restroom is available. The annual cost of 10 minutes of wasted toilet time per employee, per day:
Hourly Rate 5 Employees 10 Employees
$10.00 $2,125.50 $4,250.00
$13.00 $2,762.50 $5,525.00
$15.00 $3,187.50 $6,375.00
(Formula: Hourly Rate divided by 60 Minutes Per Hour x 10 Minutes x Number of Employees x 255 Days Per Year. Referenced through a study conducted by the Portable Sanitation Association International).
When you think about the disadvantages of not having toilets it’s easy to see why having portable toilets on site has become a must. Because builders and laborers require bathroom breaks just like those who work in an office environment, keeping a few clean portable toilets on hand is important for employee morale as well as being seen favorably by clients. Keeping both satisfied is critical to success.
If you’re looking for a portable toilet rental for your next job site in Cincinnati, be sure to check out redbox+ Dumpsters of Cincinnati! Our innovative product combines a portable restroom and a dumpster to create the most efficient option for your construction site. Call us at (513) 440-4477 to learn more!