Reps. Magaziner, Budzinski Call for Equitable Access to Restrooms for Women in the Workplace

Washington, DC — Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led ten members of Congress in a letter to Assistant Secretary Douglas L. Parker, calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assess current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers have adequate access to bathroom facilities.

Inadequate sanitation standards are denying workers, especially women in male-dominated industries, dignity, and respect in the workplace. Some women report restricting their water intake in an attempt to use the restroom less, while others report having to travel miles away from a worksite to access an adequate restroom.

“We are alarmed by the growing reports from workers, particularly women, who are sharing disturbing testimonials about their lack of access to adequate bathroom facilities at their place of work,” wrote the lawmakers. “We request OSHA assess the adequacy of current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers actually have prompt access to bathroom facilities.”

“Workers everywhere, across all industries should have their basic human rights met,” the lawmakers continued.

A PDF of the letter can be found HERE and the full text of the letter is below:

Dear Assistant Secretary Parker:

We are alarmed by the growing reports from workers, particularly women, who are sharing disturbing testimonials about their lack of access to adequate bathroom facilities at their place of work. We request OSHA assess the adequacy of current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers actually have prompt access to bathroom facilities. 

While OSHA requires employers to provide all workers with sanitary and immediately-available restrooms to ensure that workers do not suffer adverse health effects, we’ve learned that’s not the case for many workers across industries. Women working on construction sites have reported limiting their intake of liquids during the workday or habitually delaying use of the bathroom to avoid having to walk to a facility off-site, or of having to wait in long lines during breaks. We know this problem extends beyond construction workers, to workers in poultry or meat processing facilities, warehouses, farmworkers, and many more.

An assessment of current sanitation standards will make American job sites more accessible for all, including women and those with medical conditions and disabilities.

We believe workers should not have to compromise their dignity to make a living. We implore you to take swift and meaningful steps to conduct oversight of sufficient access to adequate sanitary facilities in historically male-dominated industries.

Workers everywhere, across all industries should have their basic human rights met.

Sincerely,