SafeWork SA snap audit finds dozens of construction site toilets filthy and ‘no go zones’

SafeWork SA has come down on the building industry with the majority of toilets on construction sites failing even the most basic hygiene standards.

A SafeWork SA audit blitz found the majority of construction site toilets were not up to standards: Picture: SafeWork SA

Dozens of Adelaide construction sites have failed snap safety inspections because of disgusting “no go zone” toilets, a watchdog crackdown has revealed.

In what safety chiefs condemned as shameful, official figures show almost 160 metropolitan house, or office, building sites were slapped with legal cautions in nine months for filthy loos.

As the industry fights to entice more women into construction, SafeWork SA warned formal audits uncovered scores of building sites that had been turned “into no-go zones for workers”. More than a dozen even failed to provide a toilet, which officials said was in breach of a basic human right and fuelled fears of wider health and safety problems.

Many toilets lacked basic amenities such as soap and toilet paper. Picture: SafeWork SA.

Nearly two thirds of toilets on residential construction sites failed SafeWork SA inspections. Picture: SafeWork SA.

The state government agency will on Sunday lay bare mounting concerns that bathrooms that were “unclean, unhygienic or lacked basic amenities”, especially for female workers.

The safety watchdog, which can legally enforce changes through prosecutions or fines, found some toilets “so filthy” tradespeople were forced to balance on bricks or wooden blocks to avoid direct contact with the seat.

Some workers face a 20-minute round trip from their work site to find a toilet.

SafeWork SA executive director, Glenn Farrell, described the findings as “extremely disappointing”.

“Portable toilets must be maintained and serviced in a hygienic way to minimise the risk of infections and disease for workers and others that may use them,” he said.

“A safe construction site starts with the fundamentals of having a clean toilet, equipped with the necessary facilities to accommodate all who use them.

“If the builder has a blatant disregard for suitable toilet facilities supplied to workers, there’s a good chance that other standards and safety performance on site are compromised.”

With help from several industry groups and unions, SafeWork SA last year launched a new campaign to ensure construction sites have “clean and reasonably located loos”.

Figures show between July and December, 2023, almost two thirds of residential construction sites failed a snap audit that breached new industry guidelines published in March last year.

Inspectors issued 103 toilet-related “improvement notices”, which directed builders to undertake “corrective action” on risky conditions, during 168 raids.

Authorities say clean toilets are a basic human right. Picture: iStock

Over the first four months this year, a further 54 legally-enforceable notices, which can lead to more serious consequences if ignored, were issued.

Officials said sanitary bins for women were missing in almost all sites, almost two thirds had “little or no soap”, half had no bins while more than 40 per cent had a lack of toilet paper.

The surprise audits also found two thirds had “inadequate” paper towel, almost 40 per cent were not cleaned, while one in 10 were not located in a secure spot or had safe access.

Masters Builders Association chief executive officer, Will Frogley, said the SafeWork SA audit “shows that standards must be improved.”

“Our industry badly needs more women on sites to fill our labour shortage,” he said.

“It’s really important they feel welcome on site and that includes having access to suitable hygiene facilities.”

New SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell described the findings as “extremely disappointing”. Picture: SafeWork SA

Will Frogley said the industry was struggling to attract women. Picture: Matt Loxton

Communications Electrical Plumbing Union SA branch secretary, John Adley, urged employers “to get their act together” as providing workers with hygienic amenities was a basic right.

“Employers in the building industry tell us that they have trouble attracting and retaining workers,” he said.

“Getting the basics right would be a good start to addressing these problems.”