What does OSHA require for farmworker toilets?
OSHA rule 29 CFR 1928.110 requires 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility for every 20 hand-labor field workers when 11 or more workers are in the field. Both must be within a quarter-mile walk of the workers. The rule does not apply when the work, including travel time, lasts 3 hours or less.
Read the field sanitation rule at OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110, Field sanitation. The same rule also covers potable drinking water and how often workers may use the facilities. We supply toilets and handwashing stations, not drinking water.
Brian Rental Works cannot give legal advice. Confirm your crew’s exact needs with your farm labor contractor or safety advisor.
How many field toilets does my farm crew need?
A farm crew of 11 to 20 hand-labor workers needs 1 field toilet and 1 handwashing station. A crew of 21 to 40 needs 2 of each, and a crew of 41 to 60 needs 3 of each. The count is 1 toilet and 1 handwashing facility per 20 workers, rounded up, under OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110.
| Hand-labor field workers | Toilets | Handwashing facilities |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | Not required by 1928.110* | Not required by 1928.110* |
| 11–20 | 1 | 1 |
| 21–40 | 2 | 2 |
| 41–60 | 3 | 3 |
| 61–80 | 4 | 4 |
| 81–100 | 5 | 5 |
*Crews of 10 or fewer are outside the 1928.110 count, but a toilet still keeps workers in the field. Split crews working far apart may need units at each location to stay within a quarter mile.
Run your crew size through the farm tab of the porta potty calculator.
When do Rio Grande Valley farm crews need field toilets?
Rio Grande Valley field toilet demand follows the harvest. Citrus picking runs from October to March or April. Sugarcane harvest runs from October to April on about 35,000 acres. 1015 onions are harvested in spring, and watermelon harvest peaks through May. Many growers keep units out from October to May.
| Crop | Typical RGV season | Restroom planning |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus (grapefruit, oranges) | October to March or April | Long-term units, moved block to block as picking crews move |
| Sugarcane | October to April (about 35,000 acres in the Valley) | Units at staging areas and field edges, weekly service |
| 1015 onions | Spring harvest | Short, intense harvest with large hand crews |
| Watermelon | Peak harvest through May | Heat begins; plan extra service visits |
Seasonal crews usually go on 28-day billing with weekly service. See seasonal porta potty rentals and how 28-day billing works.
Can field toilets move with the crew?
Yes. Field toilets can be moved as a crew works from block to block, so the units stay within the quarter-mile walk OSHA 29 CFR 1928.110 requires. Ask about trailer-mounted units that your crew can tow along farm roads. Standard units can also be moved by our truck when you call ahead.
- Trailer-mounted units: toilet and handwashing station ride together and move when the crew moves. Ask about availability on the call.
- Truck moves: call a day ahead with the new field location or a pin drop.
- Field edges: set units on firm ground at the turn row, where our service truck can reach them in wet weather.
- Shade: park units near the crew’s shade or water station so breaks stay short.
Set up field toilets for your crew
Call with your crew size, crop and a map pin. Hablamos español — talk with our Edinburg yard directly.
How often are field toilets serviced in the heat?
Field toilets from Brian Rental Works get 1 service visit per week, included in each 28-day cycle. From June through September, Edinburg highs average 99.9–101.3°F. We recommend twice-weekly service for crews over 10 workers in those months. Handwashing stations get fresh water, soap and towels on every visit.
- Pump and cleanThe waste tank is emptied and the inside is sanitized. Waste is hauled by our TCEQ-registered transporter trucks.
- RestockToilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap and paper towels are refilled.
- Refill handwash waterHandwashing stations get fresh water. Large crews may run a station dry before a weekly visit.
- Check and levelUnits on soft field edges are checked for tilt and re-leveled.
Spring watermelon and onion crews often work hot days before June. Add a second weekly visit when the handwash water runs low.
Can you deliver field toilets to a farm with no address?
Yes. Send a map pin of the field entrance or the turn row where the units should go. Nobody needs to be on site when the spot is marked and gates are open or the code is shared. Our trucks reach farms across Hidalgo, Starr, Cameron, Willacy and Brooks counties from our Edinburg yard.
Tell us about caliche roads, ditches or wet ground on the call. We serve farms near all of Hidalgo County, Starr County and Willacy County.