Excerpt from the Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Act, Regulation and Code
Part 24 - Toilets and Washing Facilities
Restrictions by Employer
354 An employer must not place unreasonable restrictions on a worker's use of, or access to, any of the facilities required by this Part.
Drinking Fluids
355(1) An employer must ensure that an adequate supply of drinking fluids is available to workers at a work site.
(2) The drinking fluids available at a work site must include potable water.
(3) Unless water is provided by a drinking fountain, the employer must ensure that an adequate supply of single-use drinking cups is provided in a sanitary container located by the water supply.
(4) If there are outlets at a work site for both potable water and non-potable fluid, the employer must ensure that the outlet for potable water has a prominent label that clearly indicates drinking water.
Exception
356 Sections 357 to 361 do not apply to
(a) a food establishment or other work site for which there are specific regulations under the Public Health Act, or
(b) a mobile or temporary work site at which work is being performed for a period of not more than 5 working days if the employer has arranged for workers to use local toilet facilities during that period.
Toilet Facilities
357(1) Subject to subsection (2), an employer must ensure that a work site has the number of toilets for each sex that are required by Schedule 7 in separate toilet facilities.
(2) A work site may have only one toilet facility for the use of both sexes if
- the total number of workers at the work site is never more than 10, and
- the door to the toilet facility can be locked from the inside.
(3) If 3 or more toilets are required for men, an employer may substitute not more than two thirds of the toilets with urinals.
(4) If 2 toilets are required for men, an employer may substitute one of them with a urinal.
(5) An employer must ensure that a toilet facility is located so that it is readily accessible to the workers who may use it.
Water and Drainage
358(1) If a work site is connected to a public or municipal water main and sanitary drainage system, the employer must ensure that the toilets are connected to that system.
(2) If a work site is not connected to a public or municipal water main and sanitary drainage system, the employer must ensure that the toilets are self-contained units or connected to a septic tank.
(3) An employer must ensure that a toilet that is a self-contained unit is emptied and serviced at regular intervals that ensures the unit does not overflow.
Hand Cleaning Facilities
359(1) An employer must ensure that at least one wash basin or hand cleaning facility is provided in a toilet facility.
(2) An employer must ensure that there is one wash basin or hand cleaning facility for every 2 toilets in addition to the wash basin or hand cleaning facility required under subsection (1) if 3 or more toilets are required in a toilet facility.
(3) An employer may substitute circular wash fountains for wash basins or hand cleaning facilities required by subsections (1) and (2) on the basis that each 500 millimetres of the fountain's circumference is equivalent to one wash basin or hand cleaning facility.
Supplies and Waste Receptacle
360 An employer must ensure that a toilet facility at a work site has
- toilet paper available at each toilet,
- hand cleaning agents and single-use towels of cloth or paper or air hand drying equipment at each wash basin or hand cleaning facility, and
- a covered disposal container for feminine hygiene products near each toilet used by women.
Schedule 7 - Toilets at a Work Site
[ See subsection 357(1) ]
Number of toilets required at a work site
| Number of workers of the sex | Minimum number of toilets for that sex |
|---|---|
1-10 |
1 |
11-25 |
2 |
26-50 |
3 |
51-75 |
4 |
76-100 |
5 |
>100 |
6 plus 1 for each additional 30 workers of the sex in excess of 100 |