Places of employment are one of the foremost settings in the average individual’s life. Due to their significance, it is essential that these venues remain safe for personnel in many conceivable ways. Among the multitude of safety issues that employers and those involved with building design must consider, sanitation is unquestionably a must-have, as it is one of the main requirements for living a healthy life.
However, defining sanitation can be a challenge, and different sanitation concerns may take precedent over others. According to ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 – Sanitation – In Places of Employment – Minimum Requirements, a sanitary condition is “that physical condition of working quarters which will tend to prevent the incidence and spread of disease.” The different means of achieving a sanitary condition for a workplace are detailed in this standard.
ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 covers the guidelines for sanitation in all places of employment except: where domestic, mining or common carrier transportation work only is performed, temporary employment locations, or places where non-sewered waste disposal systems are in use.
The places of employment sanitation guidelines consider the following:
Housekeeping and Waste Disposal
For a sanitary work environment, ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 recommends the clean and dry maintenance of every floor in every workroom, with few particulates in the air.
Waste disposal is a relatively simple process that undoubtedly is incorporated into most, if not all, places of employment. The key here is to assure that any refuse is secure in receptacles and is properly removed in accordance with the standard’s guidelines.
Lighting and Ventilation
The lighting and ventilation guidelines of ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 call for a strong correlation with the current edition of the International Building Code.
Water Supply
While the recommended daily water intake, according to the CDC, varies based on an individual’s lifestyle, the common advice is to drink eight cups of water every day. Whether or not this amount is exact, one thing is clear: we need water, and we need to be drinking it throughout the day.
With the understanding that water is a necessity for life, ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 specifies that adequate potable water should be provided to personnel in places of employment.
Toilet Facilities
At the core of most sanitary conditions is not only reliable water supplies but also sufficient toilet facilities. The standard calls for toilet facilities to be accessible for all employees and designed in accordance with the International Building Code.
Other Rooms and Facilities
ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 also discusses changing rooms, break rooms, and food service facilities, if they are applicable for the specific place of employment. In addition to these general requirements, the standard provides many relevant terms and information specific to meeting its stipulations.
ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 – Sanitation – In Places of Employment – Minimum Requirements is an American National Standard published by Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI), a standards-developing organization that strives for a world in which clean and safe sanitation is accessible to all.
ANSI/PSAI Z4.1-2016 – Sanitation – In Places of Employment – Minimum Requirements is available on the ANSI Webstore.
