Toilets, sanitary bins on construction sites should be 'no brainer'

Women working in construction in Canberra frequently encounter a lack of toilets and sanitary disposal bins at job sites, particularly on residential projects. This interruption to their workflow is a concern for industry professionals who view providing basic facilities as a legal obligation. Master Builders ACT is striving to alter the site culture surrounding this issue.

Employer Carly Dewey, a Master Builders ACT director with over 20 years in construction, believes that basic facilities should be standard practice. She organizes male and female toilets with serviced sanitary disposal bins on all her building sites, noting the additional cost is minimal compared to the loss of worker productivity.

Electrician Lainey Morgan has observed mixed experiences regarding sanitation facilities across different sites, with inadequate provisions impacting productivity due to workers needing to seek public facilities.

The issue extends beyond residential projects, rooted in workplace culture, particularly for early-career women. Morgan recalls feeling intimidated from speaking up about the lack of facilities in her apprenticeship. Both Morgan and Dewey advocate for making these facilities a default aspect of site setup rather than something women need to request.

Worksafe ACT mandates employers to provide clean, safe, maintained, and accessible toilets and washing facilities for all workers. Inspectors have documented cases where workers had no option but to carry sanitary products and change them in unsanitary conditions. While the problem isn't unique to construction, inadequate facilities have been reported across various industries.

Addressing this issue is crucial for attracting more women to the construction workforce, as emphasized by Master Builders ACT's Level the Site program, which supports employers in fostering inclusive workplace cultures and ensuring proper sanitation facilities.