A practical planning guide from Briony Portable Toilets.
Sanitation on a construction site is not just an amenity — it is an OSHA compliance requirement, a productivity multiplier, and a signal to your crew that management takes worker welfare seriously. This planning guide covers how many units your project needs, where to place them, what to service, and how to keep things moving through a Fargo-Moorhead winter.
OSHA Requirements at a Glance
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 requires potable drinking water, hand-washing facilities, and toilets on every construction site. The toilet ratio scales with crew size: one toilet for 20 or fewer workers, one toilet and one urinal per 40 workers up to 200, and one toilet and one urinal per 50 workers above that. Fewer crew members can share one unit; larger crews need dedicated banks. Handwashing facilities must be provided regardless of crew size when workers handle materials that require washing before eating.
Sizing Your Rental Based on Crew and Schedule
A 12-person crew running Monday through Friday needs a minimum of one standard unit with weekly service. Scale up as you add subs, extend hours, or plan overtime weekends. If your project has fluctuating headcount — a slab pour with 30 hands one day and a small punch-list crew the next — plan for the peak, not the average, so no one wastes time walking off-site during crunch periods.
Placement That Actually Works
Place units close enough that they get used but far enough from finished-work areas and equipment lanes that they do not interfere with production. Level ground is non-negotiable — a unit on a slope leaks, tips, and cannot be serviced safely. Keep at least 15 feet of clearance between the unit door and any active vehicle path. Anchor units in windy conditions, especially in fall and spring when Fargo gusts routinely exceed 30 mph.
Winter Sanitation Strategy
North Dakota winters demand a different playbook. Order freeze-resistant chemicals from the first cold snap onward. Keep plowed paths open to every unit for service trucks. Consider adding a heated luxury trailer for extended winter projects — the productivity gain from a warm restroom pays for itself in avoided cold-weather breaks. Snow-load enclosures around unit banks help but must never block ventilation.
Handwashing and Sanitizer Placement
Pair every unit bank with at least one handwashing station. Foot-pump handwashing stations do not require plumbing and hold 20 gallons of fresh water. Add hand-sanitizer stations at trailer entrances, tool-crib checkouts, and break areas — small habit changes drive measurable illness reduction across a crew.
Multi-Phase and Multi-Site Coordination
Large projects with distinct phases benefit from a single contract that covers every phase. As excavation moves to framing to finishes, unit counts change; a single point of contact means we can add, subtract, relocate, or upgrade units on 24-hour notice. Multi-site GC accounts get consolidated invoicing and prioritized emergency dispatch.
Compliance Documentation
For projects subject to owner audits or safety walk-throughs, we can provide service logs showing every visit with date, time, technician, and services performed. This documentation is often requested during OSHA-recordable investigations and is provided at no extra charge to active accounts.
Ready to Plan Your Rental
Once you have the fundamentals from this guide, the next step is a written quote tailored to your project. Call our Fargo office at 701-987-0097 or use our online quote form. Quote requests during business hours are typically returned the same business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
Call 701-987-0097 or request a quote online. Our team will walk you through your options.
Do you serve my area?
We serve the entire Fargo-Moorhead metro and Cass County. See our Areas Served page for the full list.
How far in advance should I book?
One to two weeks is ideal, though same-week and same-day service is often available.
Are units cleaned between rentals?
Yes — every unit is pressure-washed, sanitized, and inspected between rentals.
What if I need more units mid-rental?
Just call the office. We can add units, increase service frequency, or extend rentals at any time.
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