OSHA Porta Potty Requirements for Nebraska and Iowa Jobsites
The exact toilet counts, handwashing rules and who enforces them on each side of the Missouri River.
How many toilets does OSHA require on a jobsite?
OSHA requires at least 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers on a construction site, under 29 CFR 1926.51(c), Table D-1. For 20 or more workers, the rule is 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. For 200 or more workers, it is 1 seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers.
| Workers | Minimum facilities (Table D-1) |
|---|---|
| 20 or fewer | 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 29 CFR 1926.51.
Who enforces the rule in Nebraska and Iowa?
Federal OSHA enforces the jobsite toilet rule in Nebraska, because Nebraska has no state plan for private employers. Iowa runs its own state plan, Iowa OSHA, now part of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Iowa adopts the federal construction standard, so the counts match.
That matters on metro jobs that cross the river. A crew in Omaha and a crew in Council Bluffs need the same number of toilets, but a complaint goes to a different office. See Iowa DIAL.
When is handwashing required?
OSHA 1926.51(f) requires washing facilities when workers handle paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides or other contaminants that can be harmful. In practice, many Omaha general contractors require a hand-washing station on every site, even when the work does not strictly call for one.
What about farms?
Farm field work falls under OSHA 1928.110. It requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility for every 20 employees, within a quarter-mile walk of where they work. The rule applies to farms with 11 or more hand-labor field workers on a given day, and facilities are not required for workers whose field work, including travel time, lasts 3 hours or less.
Source: OSHA 1928.110.
What do we recommend above the minimum?
Table D-1 is a minimum. We recommend about 1 standard unit per 10 workers on a 40-hour week with weekly service, so units do not fill between visits. This is a planning suggestion, not legal advice. Your safety lead decides.
Questions about this rental
Do subcontractors count toward the worker total?
OSHA counts all employees on the site who use the facilities. Most general contractors include every trade on site when sizing toilets. Ask your safety lead how your contract assigns it.
Does a unit's urinal count toward the OSHA total?
A wall urinal inside a standard unit is commonly counted as a urinal for Table D-1 purposes. Confirm with your safety lead for your site.
Get an itemized quote
Tell us the ZIP, the dates and roughly how many people. You get one total that already includes delivery, pickup, servicing and tax.
Call Now (402) 313-6760Fastest way to bookCalling is fastest. Forms get a reply within 1 business hour, Mon–Sat.