OHS Facts on Toilet Amenities

Occupational Health and Safety is such a wide ranging subject that we are never surprised at the questions we receive here at Safety Concepts. Lately we have been getting lots of OHS questions about staff amenities and the rights or wrongs of this very sensitive subject.

So here is the essential list of things you need to know about toilets in the workplace.

• The facts are that for all round good health it is crucial that employees have ready access to toilet facilities. Where toilets are not readily available staff can suffer health problems due to lower fluids intake or excessive retention.
• All toilets should preferably be connected to a sewer. If that is not practical the toilet should be an open-closet style or self contained flushing unit.
• Toilets should have a hinged seat and lid and a door that locks or is fastened from the inside.
• The toilet should be regularly cleaned and maintained to ensure good hygiene.
• Female workers should have available an appropriate system for the safe disposal of sanitary items.
• Seperate toilets should be provided for male and female employees by the employer rather than relying on external public toilets.
• However where the business is very small with say less than 10 employees a  unisex facility consisting of one toilet, one washbasin and sanitory disposal may be provided, as long as privacy can be assured.
• In multistorey buildings toilets should be installed on at least every second floor.
• Short term workplaces like construction sites require temporary toilets. The temporary toilets must be secured, well lighted, private and ventilated.
• Employees working away from from base need reasonable access to toilets. In these cases the amenity may be in the form of a public toilet as long as the employer ensures that the employee will have access available during normal working hours.
• The number of toilets required depends on how many people (staff and visitors) will use the facilities and also on the type of building.  In most workplaces there must be one closet pan toilet for every 20 males and one urinal for every 25 males. For females there must be one closet pan toilet for every 15 people.  In busy shopping centres or places that receive large numbers of visitors employers should provide seperate staff amenities. The Building Code of Australia provides the standard guidelines for the number of toilets required.