SECTION 295.167. Standards for Hand-washing Facilities

(a) General.

(1) Employers shall provide hand-washing facilities for maintaining personal cleanliness at every temporary place of employment. These shall be convenient for employee use and shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.

(2) Hand-washing facilities shall be supplied with running water, which may be gravity flow. It is required that this be potable water. See §295.165(a) of this title (relating to Standards for Water Supply).

(3) At least one hand-washing facility shall be located in or adjacent to any toilet room provided for employees' use, whether these are portable or at fixed (permanent) locations. A minimum of one hand-washing facility shall be provided for each two toilet facilities, as determined from the requirements of §295.166(a)(3) of this title (relating to Standards for Toilet Facilities and Toilet Rooms).

(4) A dispenser containing a suitable cleansing agent shall be provided for each hand-washing facility. Individual hand towels and proper receptacles for their disposal shall be located conveniently.

(5) Wherever a sufficient supply of potable water for hand-washing cannot be provided at a particular temporary job site, compliance with the hand-washing standards may be accomplished by providing an ample supply of disposable, pre-moistened cleaning towels and emulsifiable skin cleaners. This alternative shall not be employed as a permanent substitute for hand-washing facilities, however.

(b) Specifications: portable hand-washing facilities.

(1) Portable hand-washing facilities shall be supplied with potable water for washing purposes to the extent of at least one-half gallon for each of the maximum number of employees present for regular work day. Storage tanks for such water must be kept in a sanitary condition.

(2) "Grey water" (wash water after being used) shall be disposed of in a holding tank, seepage pit, or by other means so as not to create a nuisance or menace to health.

Source Note: The provisions of this §295.167 adopted to be effective February 22, 1993, 18 TexReg 848.