News & Events Construction Sites with 25 People or More Must Have Flushable Toilets
Background
At the BC Building Trades Constitutional Convention in Victoria on October 16th, 2023, Premier David Eby announced a new requirement for construction sites with 25 or more workers to provide access to flushable toilets. This development follows the “Get Flushed” campaign led by the BC Building Trades, which has been advocating for improved washroom facilities on job sites.
CLR has supported these efforts, provided the requirements are reasonable and applied equally to all contractors, ensuring that compliance costs do not affect competitiveness.
At CLR, we stand behind the improvement of worksite facilities and back the BCBT’s advocacy. Our position is that any government regulations must be applied consistently across the construction industry and enforced uniformly by regulatory authorities. This will ensure that contractor competitiveness is maintained, as all contractors will bear the same compliance costs.
Today’s Announcement
New Washroom Regulations for Construction Sites to Take Effect on October 1st, 2024
On September 5th, 2024, the office of the Lieutenant Governor signed an order officially enacting new regulatory requirements for washroom facilities on construction sites. These regulations will become enforceable starting October 1st, 2024. A copy of the order and WorkSafeBC regulation changes is attached for your reference.
“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. They also require hand-washing facilities with soap and water, or other methods of hand-cleaning. Employers must also ensure washrooms are well-maintained, clean, ventilated and provide privacy.” – Excerpt from Ministry Of Labour News Bulletin
CLR will continue to advocate for clear, practical guidelines to ensure consistent application and understanding of the new regulations across the industry. Please contact CLR staff if you have any questions regarding this announcement.
Resources
Ministry Of Labour News Bulletin. (2024, September 5). Flush toilets coming to B.C. construction sites