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Washrooms and Lockers Showers for employees at Link-Belt Company's Colmar plant are adjacent to lavatory and toilet rooms on mezzanine above shop offices where lockers are also located. Salt- glazed tile simplifies maintenance. (The Austin Co.) FACILITIES for personal cleanli ness, comfort and convenience are conspicuous factors in good working conditions. Adequate and wellmaintained washrooms, toilets and lockers encourage better attitudes and attract desirable workers. Attention to these requirements in planning industrial and commer cial buildings will insure sufficient space and convenient location. Otherwise they may have to be fitted later into less suitable space. Many plants have outgrown their original facilities. A survey of present equipment checked against the number of employees will show whether additions are needed. Also, equipment should be examined critically by modern standards of sanitation and appearance. Assistance in planning new quar ters or modernizing existing equip ment is offered by many manufac turers of washroom equipment and supplies. Higher standards of sanitation and lower maintenance costs can be achieved at little extra cost when buildings are planned. Dirt catch ing cracks and corners and dust col lecting surfaces can be avoided. Floors and walls of easily eleanable material can be specified. Location. Depending on the size and type of plant and its operations, lockers, lavatories and toilets may be in one central location or scattered through the plant. In smaller plants, washrooms and lockers are usually near the en trance. Toilets should not be more than 200 feet away from any work place. In multi-story buildings, one on each floor is desirable. If that is not prac ticable, they should not be more than one floor above or below the work place. Washrooms in large one-story buildings usually are scattered throughout the building. Where there are mar y small isolated build ings, as in chemical plants and rail road yards, or where much of the activity is outdoors, a separate build ing may house all these facilities. Accommodations should be located so that employees will not have to cross highways or railroad tracks to reach them. Washing Facilities Max. No. Persons No. Washing Using Facilities Facilities at One Time 15 1 110 ' 50 For each additional 25 persons 1 additional Note: Where circular fountains are used, 17 inches of outside rim equals one lavatory. National Safety News, March, 1954 1954 NSC Section 3--Industrial Health Engineering When lockers and washrooms of a large plant are near the main en trance, small rooms with lavatories and toilets are often scattered through the plant. This saves the workers' time and makes it possible to close the main room during work ing hours, lessening danger of theft and requiring less supervision. Separate^ washrooms and lockers are desirable for departments where there is exposure to excessive dust, dirt, heat, vapors, or moisture. These need more lavatories or shower baths than cleaner departments. Offsetting the advantages of scat tered facilities, is the higher cost of installation and maintenance. Centralized toilet and washing facili ties are often preferable where women are employed. In some plants a full-time attendant may be needed. In some large plants with under ground passageways connecting buildings and departments, personal service facilities are often located along them, conserving space for manufacturing operations. Another space-saving method is to locate them on balconies. Light. Fixtures should provide sufficient light in all parts of the room. Walls, ceilings and partitions should be light in color to conserve light and encourage cleanliness. Ventilation. Unless the washroom has sufficient outside windows for natural ventilation, forced ventila tion will be needed. Floors, and walls to a height of at least six inches, should be of im pervious material, such as glazed tile or concrete. Walls should form a tight joint at the floor level, or there should be a cove base at least six inches high. Wash Fixtures Group washing equipment. In in dustrial plants, institutions, schools and other establishments where fa cilities must be provided for large groups, circular wash fountains are the most frequent choice. Eight to 10 users can be accommo dated at a 54-inch circular fountain and 5 to 6 at a 36-inch unit. Fewer valves and plumbing connections mean additional economies in instal lation and maintenance. Economy of water is another ad vantage. Several persons washing at a circular fountain use little more water than one at an individual basin. Each user washes in clean running water of regulated temper ature. A foot or hand-controlled mechanism regulates the flow. Semi-circular units 36 or 54 inches wide mounted against a wall are 53 used for narrow or irregular wash rooms. Precast stone and marble are the most frequently used materials. Some models are also available in enameled iron and stainless steel. Individual basins of vitreous china or enameled iron make an attractive installation where comparatively small groups are to be accommo dated. Mixing faucets, rather than sepa rate faucets for hot and cold water, are recommended. Hot and cold handles should be plainly marked, with the hot water valve always on the left side. Thermostatic control of water temperature is a desirable safeguard. Stoppers should not be used. Faucets should permit washing in running water. Where low first cost is a considera tion, enameled troughs may be used. Over these are hot and cold water pipes with mixing faucets spaced not less than 24 inches apart. Double-width troughs, or single width troughs back to back, save space. Spray heads at basins or troughs encourage a thorough job of wash ing. They should be high enough above the trough to permit washing head, arms and shoulders under the spray. Showers are needed in many in dustries, particularly where opera tions are hot or dirty, or where toxic materials are used. Requirements depend upon nature of the processes. They range from one shower to every five men to one for every 15 men. Shower installations may be of the compartment or the circular multi stall type. Floors and approaches should be of slip-resistant material, such as concrete with an abrasive surface. A curb 4 inches high should be erected around shower stalls to keep water within the enclosure. Painting the curb a contrasting color helps to prevent tripping. Fungous infections. Warm moist air in shower rooms offers ideal con ditions for propagation of the fungi that cause '`athlete's foot." Floors and shower stalls should be scrubbed daily as a general sanitation meas ure. Disinfection by germicides is also helpful. Preparations for toughening the skin, antiseptic foot powders, and careful drying of the feet are among the preventives used. Pans of anti septic solution at the entrance of the M fc---------------------------- ------------- shower stalls have been found in effective for killing fungi. Emergency showers. Quick-acting showers should be installed at con venient locations where caustics, acids and other corrosives are handled. Skin Cleansers Skin cleansers may be classified as soaps, sulfonated oils, and synthetic detergents. Powdered soaps are more eco nomical than cakes. These consist principally of powdered hard soap and a water softener, to which a scrubbing agent may be added. Com meal, the most commonly used scrubber, may be coarse or fine. Most of these soaps can be used with hard water. Liquid soaps are generally satis factory where a scrubber is not de sired. They are frequently used in office washrooms and in first-aid rooms. Soap should contain no free alkali and should show a low pH in dilute solution. This can be determined before purchasing. Sulfonated oils are useful for dry and soap-sensitive skins. They are frequently used where workers are exposed to the defatting action of petroleum oils and organic solvents. Synthetic detergents of several types, gentle but effective in their action, are being used in many in dustries. They are particularly use ful for removing oil, wax and tar. Waterless skin cleansers are a recent development. They are said to be non-irritating but effective in removing grease and grime. Dis pensers which include a receptacle for waste towels are portable and can be set up quickly where needed and without plumbing connections. Dis pensers for paper towels can be attached. Use of naphtha, carbon tetra chloride, turpentine and other or ganic solvents for skin cleaning should be avoided. Some are toxic, some are flammable, and all have a drastic defatting action. If they must be used to remove substances such as lacquer, which resist other cleansers, emollient creams help to offset loss of natural skin oils. Germicidal cleansers. Ordinary soaps and synthetic detergents re- Space Allowed for Toilet Facilities (Minimum Floor Space--Square Feet) Closets ............................. 16 Lavatories .......................................... 12 Urinals ................ 12 move transient bacteria from the surface but are not effective in re ducing those embedded in the skin. Many germicides, such as phenol compounds, have been tested as in gredients of skin cleansers but re quired high concentrations that made them unsuitable for daily use. A promising recent development is hexachlorophene which has been in corporated in soaps and detergents used for medical, surgical and de odorant purposes. Drying the Skin Paper towels meet sanitary re quirements and are economical and convenient. Dispensers should be kept filled and receptacles for used towels provided. Recessed waste receptacles take one more object off the floor, im proving the appearance of the wash room and making cleaning easier. Mechanical hot air driers are ac ceptable from the hygienic stand point. They are foot operated and may be of the pedestal type or re cessed into the wall. Equipment should be well grounded and the electrical connection permanently installed without extension cords or plugs. Towel services are used by some establishments, usually stores and offices. For industrial use. individ ual towels kept in lockers may not be changed often enough and they may come in contact with -oiled work clothes. Toilets Toilets should be patr.-d off from washrooms and lo. k. . i'.uti- tions of enameled mend , . "iac- tive in appearance and . -, ,, eep clean. These partitions - , ,us. pended from the ceiling .r.ted on the walls. Wall-mounted toilets ... !t,or Nlimmal Softly N*wa, ttS4 The Most Important Safety Development in Exhaust Fume Control... Death to Carbon Monoxide and Hy/ drov carbons The OCM Catalytic Exhaust A Houdrv Catalyst Development A death sentence for two killers -- a proven answer to one of industry's most critical problems -- that's what the OCM Catalytic Exhaust means to you today. You know the deadly risk of carbon monoxide wherever gasoline-powered equipment is used indoors. The hydro carbons in exhaust fumes are even more dangerous. Now, with the OCM Exhaust, both these threats to life and health can be easily, eeonomicaliv ended. 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Introduces fresh air Into exhaust gas stream to provide necessary oxygen. (3) Fresh air filter prevents contamination--keeps foreign matter from entering exhaust system. (4} Catalytic units here eliminate carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, fumes and odors. Units give 2000-2500 hours of trouble-free service--can then be quickly, economically replaced. OCM Exhaust imposes no more back pressure than standard muffler--often less. A thermocouple connected with pyrometer on instrument panel keeps constant check on catalyst efficiency. Non-feaded gasoline must he used. haust fume problem is great and grow ing. Now. with the OCM Exhaust, you can have cleaner, safer air inside your plant. For your employees this means an end to fume-caused headaches, eye irritation and nausea -- perhaps serious undermining of health. For you it means all the advantages of higher employee productivity and morale. 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Send in the con* pon below for new illustrated folder on the OCM Catalytic Exhaust, and complete techni cal information. OXY-CATALYST, Inc Woyn* Pa Send me complete tec* Catalytic Exhaust and - * qn the OCM - * Supplier. Name................. . ... _ Firm Name ....... ...... XOTE. This company makes catalysts for air pollution control and waste heat recovery in drying ovens, incinerators, oil refineries, and many other industrial operations. Write for details. Street________ ___ City......................... ._ ____ National Safety News, March, If$4 55 sf,'on 3-Industrial Health Engineering Come to BOOTHS 116-117, see and operate this equipment ALSO ON EXHIBITION TALLER & COOPER'S new continuous Hydrogen Analyzer STOP CO TWO WAYS I TALLER & COOPER'S ADVANCED CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR 9 06 9? f If '! The finest CO safe guard in the world. Operates continuously without supervision. Accurately detects CO in all ranges, and in concentrations as small as 0.05 parts CO in 10,000 parts of air. Can automatically control ventilation systems and reduce power waste by turning on fans only when needed, turning them off when danger is past. Designed for long periods of trouble free, heavy duty opera tion. TALLER & (OOPIR'S^xO P0RT0C0 A small, compact unit for protection in en closed areas. May foe moved from place to place to spot-check CO concentrations, or op erated continuously at a permanent location. Indicates when and where fans should be turned on. Can also automatically control fans. Offers the high est dependability and accuracy at the lowest cost. * *- *-- .* *? \. ' : ! R) ; ViUi h<-<djtU*4U`hi .-an be ' uf.ntM MtnlMiMiltW* ,n<I etpinsiv* .-.dn Write for Bulletin 207 and lull defai/s. TALLER & C0QPER, INC " - ENGINEERS MANUFACTURERS 85 FRONT STREET BROOKLYN 1, N. Y. SPECIAL PURPOSE INSTRUMENTATION cleaning easier and quicker, oval-rim type of toilet with oper,' front plastic seat is most wide]' used. Foot-operated flush valves ar^ favored by many. ' The flushing mechanism should lugged since employees often the handle instead of operating ^ by hand. Flush valves should be equipped with 'vacuum breakers (0 avoid back siphon^ge. Minimum number of toilets speci. fled by American Standard Cede Z-4.1:. No. persons 1- 9 10- 24 25- 49 50-100 Over 100 No. toilets \1 2 *> 5 1 for each additional 30 persons Toilets should be not more than 200 feet from any work place: pref erably less than 150 feet. Facilities for men and women should be plainly marked. Urinals should be placed through out the plant in convenient locations to avoid loss of time. One urinal for each 40 men is usually sufficient. Automatic flush valves use more water but are more effective in maintaining cleanliness since many persons seem reluctant to touch hand-operated valves. Floors of toilet rooms should be of impervious materials, smooth and free from cracks. Tile and concrete are satisfactory. Floor drains permit frequent flushing. If possible, toilet rooms should have outside windows for light and ventilation. State or municipal reg ulations usually contain provisions for ventilation. Switches for lights, electric driers or other equipment should be lo cated so they cannot be operated by a person in contact with piping or other grounded conductor. In pullchain fixtures the chain should be interrupted by an insulating link 'close to the fixture. In plants where eating rooms are close to toilet rooms, covered recep tacles for disposal of waste food should be provided in the lunch rooms. Eating lunches in the toilet room should not be permitted. Cuspidors should be provided where needed and cleaned at least daily. The disposable type requires less handling. 1 Lockers A well-equipped locker room is an aid to orderly habits and often to health. --To page 14 56 National Safety News, March, 1954