Field sanitation requirements for farm work
Farm hand labor has its own sanitation rule, separate from the construction standard. It sets drinking water, a toilet and a hand wash facility for every 20 workers and a distance limit from the work. This guide walks through it and what it means for ordering toilets and wash stations for a field crew.
- WaterCool and accessible
- RatioOne of each per 20 workers
- DistanceWithin a quarter mile
The rule
What 29 CFR 1928.110 requires
The standard applies to agricultural establishments where eleven or more employees are engaged in hand labor operations in the field on any given day.1 The employer provides everything below without cost to the employee.
| Topic | What the standard says |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Placed in locations readily accessible to all employees, suitably cool and in sufficient amounts, with single use cups or fountains. Common cups and dippers are prohibited |
| Toilets and hand washing | One toilet facility and one handwashing facility for each 20 employees or fraction thereof |
| Toilet features | Adequately ventilated, screened, with self closing doors that latch from the inside, and privacy |
| Distance | Within a one quarter mile walk of each hand laborer's place of work, and in close proximity to each other. Where terrain makes that infeasible, at the point of closest vehicular access |
| Short jobs | Not required for field work of three hours or less, including transportation time |
| Servicing | Toilets operational and kept clean and sanitary, handwashing facilities refilled with potable water as necessary, and waste disposal that does not cause unsanitary conditions |
| Employee information | Employees must be told where the facilities are and have reasonable opportunities to use them |
A field crew to set up?
Tell us the crew size, the fields and the dates. We source toilets, hand wash stations and service.
Planning
Turning the rule into an order
The ratio and the distance decide the count.
- 01
Count by crew
One of each per 20 employees or part of 20, so a crew of 21 needs two toilets and two hand wash facilities.
- 02
Place within a quarter mile
Plan placement as fields change, and move units when crews move.
- 03
Plan servicing
Cleaning, refilling and waste removal on a schedule. Tell us the harvest or work calendar.
- 04
Do not forget water
Drinking water is a separate requirement. Our water service can supply it.
Common questions
Field sanitation questions
Who does the field sanitation standard cover?
Agricultural establishments where eleven or more employees do hand labor operations in the field on a given day.
How many toilets do farm workers need?
One toilet facility and one handwashing facility for each 20 employees or fraction thereof.
How close must toilets be to the field?
Within a one quarter mile walk of each hand laborer's place of work, and near each other. Where terrain makes that infeasible, at the point of closest vehicular access.
Is drinking water required?
Yes. It must be readily accessible, suitably cool and in sufficient amounts, with single use cups or fountains.
Does the rule apply to short jobs?
Not for field work of three hours or less, including transportation time.
Can you supply toilets and hand wash stations for a field crew?
Yes. Call sales at (888) 588-2607 with the crew size and locations.
Toilets, hand wash and water for field crews
Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill. If a delivery gets missed, we contact the provider the same business day.
Read next
Sources
- 29 CFR 1928.110, Field sanitation. Checked November 3, 2026. ecfr.gov