Flush toilets coming Oct. 1 for B.C. construction sites

VICTORIA – British Columbia construction workers will soon have access to flush toilets on worksites.

Changes to the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation will make it mandatory for sites with 25 or more workers to provide flush toilets, hand-washing facilities and clean washrooms.

The changes to the regulation come into effect Oct. 1, a provincial government release said, but “WorkSafeBC will continue to work with construction companies during the next few months to ensure they are aware of the changes and understand what is required to comply.”

“We all know how unpleasant port-a-potties can be, but this is actually a health-and-safety issue for construction workers. We have heard clearly from the building sector that it is an important issue for workers, and it contributes to the sector’s ability to attract and retain workers, including women,” said B.C. Minister of Labour Harry Bains in a statement.

The BC Building Trades previously conducted a three-year campaign titled “Get Flushed” to advocate for improved washroom facilities on sites, citing health and safety and mental health concerns as well as an increasing number of women joining the construction workforce.

“Sanitation practices in construction have long fallen short of societal expectations and norms for workplace hygiene.  Appropriate facilities are being used in other industries such as film, tourism and entertainment. It’s time the construction industry addresses one of the most egregious indignities that construction workers have had to face in their daily lives,” BC Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke added.

In October 2023, B.C. Premier David Eby committed to changing the regulation.

The new requirement is for toilets that can be connected to a sewer system or holding tank and use a flow of clean water or a mixture of clean water and chemicals to flush the bowl, the release said. Handwashing facilities with soap and water or other methods of hand-cleaning are also required. Employers must also ensure washrooms are well-maintained, clean, ventilated and provide privacy.

“I love my job, but one of the worst parts of going to work is facing the nasty conditions inside porta-potties. These new rules mean myself and my colleagues will be treated with the basic dignity of having flushing toilets, something workers in most other industries take for granted,” Red Seal electrician and IBEW 213 member Tiffany Madden said.