Toilets may not be top of mind when planning a construction site, but offering clean, comfortable restrooms can positively impact employee morale and boost productivity. One or two meticulously maintained porta potties along with hand wash stations may be sufficient for a small jobsite, but larger jobsites can benefit from portable restroom trailers.

Equipped with private stalls, flushable toilets, interior lighting, climate control, porcelain sinks and hot and cold running sink water, these trailers offer many of the comforts of a home bathroom. Read more about the benefits and what to consider before renting a restroom trailer for your jobsite.

Restroom trailers vs. porta potties

Porta potties are the obvious choice for small jobsites. Even if you rent a restroom trailer for a large jobsite, adding a few porta potties to more remote, less crowded areas of the jobsite can be a smart move. But to serve the needs of large crews and multiple trade partners, portable restroom trailers amount to a significant upgrade in comfort and convenience.

They are also easier to keep clean. Employees tend to treat them better than they do porta potties. What’s more, flushable toilets remove waste to an outside tank or plumbing system, so there’s no possibility of odor from an inside holding tank. Portable restroom trailers also offer more room for trash bins and more ventilation.

How many stalls do you need?

Choosing the right restroom trailer starts with understanding how many toilets you need. Restroom trailers range in size from two-station trailers to 19-station trailers.

OSHA requires employers to provide a specified number of toilets on all construction sites. The standard worker-to-toilet ratio on construction and industrial sites is one toilet for every 10 workers in a 40-hour work week.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires one handicap-accessible toilet for every 20 workers. Restrooms trailers with an ADA-compliant unit are available.

Choose the optimal location

Restroom trailers are towed in by truck and easy to set up. Station them throughout the jobsite in areas with the most worker foot traffic. Choose spots with level, firm ground away from heavy machinery.

Keep in mind that you’ll need sufficient space for the restroom trailer and a clear path, away from trees and other obstructions, for the truck and trailer to access the space. If you don’t plan to hook up to waste and water utilities, make sure there’s room around the trailer for a standard pump truck to service it.

A full-service temporary equipment vendor can visit the site and help you identify the best locations for your restroom trailers.

Plan for power and water

Restroom trailers can be connected to onsite electric, water and sewage lines. If utilities aren’t available, trailers that come with water and waste tanks can be powered with a portable generator and used almost anywhere.

On projects with sustainability goals, consider alternatives to diesel generators for powering the trailers. Options include a stand-alone battery such as the Moxion MP-75 and a hybrid power system such as the Hipower EHR Solar Battery Generator.

Consider extra conveniences

Some restroom trailers have combination shower-restroom stations that allow workers to shower in privacy and comfort. They feature easy-to-clean floors that drain. These trailers are ideal for disaster recovery jobsites and industrial sites where workers get dirty.

“Mother’s room” units offer a private space with comfortable seating for nursing mothers to pump breast milk and diaper-changing tables for visitors with infants.

To accommodate employees who work long hours or travel a great distance to the jobsite, a valuable bonus to offer is a separate laundry trailer complete with washers and dryers.

Create an inspection schedule

Dirty restrooms are off-putting, so regular service and maintenance are key. A best-in-class portable restroom provider will service the units as needed, as often as multiple times per day, to keep them clean, fresh and fully stocked.

Appointing a person to inspect the restrooms on a regular basis will help ensure that the maintenance schedule is adequate. The appointed person can also identify any issues that arise in between scheduled service visits and report issues that require action.

Weigh the value of security cameras

Some companies install video surveillance cameras outside of restroom trailers to dissuade graffiti artists and other would-be vandals and capture footage of any vandalism that occurs. A temporary equipment vendor with a full line of general rental equipment including cameras can help you select a camera system to use with your restroom trailers and provide the equipment.

Companies that look out for the health and well-being of workers and go the extra mile to provide a safe and comfortable work environment are likely to see higher job satisfaction scores and potentially even higher worker retention rates. Portable restroom trailers provide a luxury restroom experience workers will notice and appreciate.

Visit our online marketplace to browse our full selection of restroom trailers.