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Toilets in a nearby building on one premises

Summary A business asked whether a smaller building needed its own toilets when a main building stood about 90 feet away. OSHA said the arrangement appeared to meet the cited sanitation rule if both buildings were on the same premises and workers had unobstructed free access to sufficient toilets.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1976-03-11
Date issued
March 11, 1976
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Sanitation
Source
View the official document

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March 11, 1976

Mr. A. Quayle
Aeroil Products Company, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Quayle:

This is in response to your letter of February 20, 1976, regarding the location of adequate toilet facilities. In addition, it confirms a telephone conversation with a member of my staff.

The description of a smaller, single story, building with no toilet facilities separated by 90 feet of pavement from a single story main building that has the required toilet facilities for all employees appears to meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(i) (copy enclosed). This opinion is based on both buildings being on the same premises with unobstructed free access to the toilet facilities.

Thank you for your concern and continuing interest in occupational safety and health. If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
John K. Barto, Chief
Division of Occupational Safety Programming

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