Field Sanitation Standard
Who Must Comply?
Employers who employ or have employed one or more employees engaged in
hand-labor operations in the field during the past twelve months, must
provide toilets, handwashing facilities and drinking water to such employees
at no cost to the employee.
Exemptions
Activities such as logging, the care and feeding of livestock, or hand-labor
operations in permanent structures (e.g., canning facilities or packing
houses) are not included in hand labor operations.
Definitions
Handwashing facility
Handwashing facility means a facility providing either a basin, container,
or outlet with an adequate supply of potable water, soap, and single-use
towels.
Potable water
Potable water means water that meets standards for drinking water set by
the state or local jurisdictions or water that meets the quality standards
prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Interim
Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
Toilet facility
Toilet facility means a fixed or portable facility designed for the purpose
of adequate collection and containment of the products of both defecation
and urination, supplied with toilet paper adequate to employee needs. “Toilet
facility” includes biological, chemical, flush and combustion toilets and
sanitary privies.
Compliance
Employers Must
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Provide toilets and handwashing facilities as follows:
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One toilet facility and one handwashing facility for every 20 employees
or fraction thereof.
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Toilet facilities shall be adequately ventilated and screened, having self-closing
doors that can be closed and latched from the inside and constructed to
insure privacy.
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Toilet and handwashing facilities must be accessible to employees and in
close proximity to each other. Facilities must be located within a 1/4-mile
of each hand laborer’s place of work in the field.
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Where, because of terrain problems, it is not feasible to locate facilities
within the 1/4-mile distance, the facilities can be located at the closest
vehicular access to the field.
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Provide potable drinking water which is readily accessible to all employees
as follows:
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Suitably cool water in sufficient amounts, taking into account the air
temperature, humidity, and the nature of the work performed, to meet the
needs of all employees.
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Water dispensed in single-use drinking cups or by fountains. Shared drinking
cups or dippers are prohibited.
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Maintain potable drinking water, toilets, and handwashing facilities in
accordance with appropriate public health sanitation practices as follows:
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Drinking water containers shall be constructed of materials that maintain
water quality, shall be refilled daily or more often as necessary, shall
be kept covered and shall be regularly cleaned.
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Toilet facilities shall be operational and maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition.
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Handwashing facilities shall be refilled with potable water as necessary
to ensure an adequate supply and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition.
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Disposal of waste from facilities shall not cause unsanitary conditions.
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The employer must notify each employee of the location of drinking water
and sanitation facilities and provide employees with reasonable opportunities
during the work day to use them.
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It is the employer’s responsibility to inform each employee of the importance
of each of the following good hygiene practices to minimize exposure to
the hazards of heat, communicable diseases, retention of urine, and agricultural
residues:
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Use the water and facilities provided for drinking, handwashing, and elimination.
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Drink water frequently, especially on hot days.
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Wash hands both before and after using the toilet.
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Urinate as frequently as necessary.
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Wash hands before eating and smoking.
Additional Information & Resources
Oregon OSHA
350 Winter Street NE
Salem OR 97310 503-378-3274 or 1-800-922-2689