Which agency covers your crew
Private employers in New York answer to federal OSHA on workplace safety, and its construction sanitation rule is 29 CFR 1926.51. The state does operate its own program, the Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau, but PESH protects public-sector workers at state agencies, counties, cities, towns and school districts rather than private contractors. Inside the five boroughs, the NYC Department of Buildings also oversees construction sites, and owners, agencies and project specs can pile on further conditions. For city work, check current NYC DOB requirements, and confirm what governs your job with your safety manager or the contract.
The toilet table people quote
The federal rule links the minimum number of toilets to how many employees are on the job. The usual summary reads:
- 20 workers or fewer: no less than one toilet.
- 20 workers or more: a seat and a urinal for every 40 workers.
- 200 workers or more: a seat and a urinal for every 50 workers.
The rule also requires sanitary upkeep and speaks to mobile crews that have quick transport to facilities nearby. There are exceptions and fine print, so read the actual regulation and current OSHA interpretations before leaning on these numbers, ours included.
Washing facilities
Paragraph (f) of 1926.51 deals with washing facilities, which come into play for certain work, such as jobs with paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides or other harmful contaminants. Plenty of contractors simply put handwashing stations beside the toilets on every job. In winter, sink water can freeze; our winter weather guide explains the options.
Running the numbers
The cases below use the table as usually summarized and round up, just as our calculator does. They show arithmetic only and do not settle compliance.
- Eight roofers in Albany. At 20 or under, the table points to one toilet. With a long summer day or a mixed crew, many contractors bring a second.
- Seventy workers on a Long Island City mid-rise. That falls in the 40-per-unit band, so two after rounding. Add more if trades break together or the floors are large.
- A 260-worker hospital addition in Buffalo. At 200 and up, one per 50 rounds to six. On a multi-story job, the trip down from the top floors may matter as much as the count.
Some versions of the table count toilets and urinals as one combined figure. Ask which of our units have a urinal, and agree with your safety manager on the counting method for your job.
The calculator's construction mode
Construction mode in our rental calculator runs your headcount through these summarized figures. Use it to plan an order; it does not certify compliance.
Reasons New York jobs often exceed the minimum
- Visitors add up. Subs, inspectors, drivers and visitors all line up at the busy times.
- Coffee break at ten. When everybody stops together, a ratio on paper will not stop the queue.
- Height. On a tower, a ground-floor unit can mean a long hoist ride each way, which is why many projects put crane-liftable units up on the working floors.
- Mixed crews. Where men and women share a small site, a second unit is usually worth it.
- Weather. Heat raises water intake in summer; in winter you need treated tanks and shoveled paths.
Shared sites
When several employers work one project, the contract normally says who provides toilets. The general contractor often covers every trade, though not on every job. Pin it down before mobilizing so the site is neither short nor doubled. On the phone, let us know if the order covers the entire project or a single crew.
Setting units on a New York site
- Put them close to the active work, not in a far corner.
- Keep them out of haul roads, the crane swing, excavations and material staging.
- Save a lane for the cleaning truck. On tight city lots, plan for curbside service and any permit that needs; see our street and sidewalk placement guide.
- In winter, keep them away from where plowed snow gets stacked.
- Expect to move them as the structure goes up. See long-term rentals.
Cleaning frequency
Weekly visits are the usual baseline. Big crews, hot weeks or hard use may call for more, and in winter each visit typically recharges the tank treatment. Our servicing page describes a normal visit.
Frequent slip-ups
- Counting only your own staff and leaving out subs and inspectors.
- Overlooking night and weekend shifts.
- Setting units where stockpiles or snow will cover them later.
- Treating the minimum as enough for a busy, multi-trade site.
- Skipping winter treatment on a job that runs past Thanksgiving.
Owner, board and city conditions
Town rules, NYC DOB requirements, agency contracts, co-op and condo boards and property managers can all set terms on location, screening or paperwork. Ask early. Our construction rentals page lists what to have on hand.
When you are ready to size an order, phone us for a quote with your crew count, schedule and address.
Reviewed November 5, 2026. General planning information only; it is not legal, engineering or regulatory advice.