Section 10. Field sanitation (29 CFR 1928.110)

Note: The following standard is unique for the enforcement of occupational safety and health within the Commonwealth of Virginia under the jurisdiction of the VOSH Program. The existing federal OSHA standard does not apply; it does not carry the force of law and is not printed in this volume.

(a) Scope. This section shall apply to any agricultural establishment where 11 or more employees are engaged on any given day in hand-labor operations in the field. 16VAC25-180-10 (c)(1) shall apply to all agricultural establishments regardless of the number of employees.

(b) Definitions.

"Agricultural employer" means any person, corporation, association, or other legal entity that:

(i) Owns or operates an agricultural establishment;

(ii) Contracts with the owner or operator of an agricultural establishment in advance of production of the purchase of a crop and exercises substantial control over production; or

(iii) Recruits and supervises employees or is responsible for the management and condition of an agricultural establishment.

"Agricultural establishment" is a business operation that uses paid employees in the production of food, fiber, or other materials such as seed, seedlings, plants, or parts of plants.

"Hand-labor operations" means agricultural activities or agricultural operations performed by hand or with hand tools. Except for purposes of paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this chapter, "hand-labor operations" also include other activities or operations performed in conjunction with hand labor in the field. Some examples of "hand-labor operations" are the hand-cultivation, hand-weeding, hand-planting and hand-harvesting of vegetables, nuts, fruits, seedlings or other crops, including mushrooms, and the hand packing of produce into containers, whether done on the ground, on a moving machine or in a temporary packing shed located in the field. "Hand-labor" does not include such activities as logging operations, the care or feeding of livestock, or hand-labor operations in permanent structures (e.g., canning facilities or packing houses).

"Handwashing facility" means a facility providing either a basin, container, or outlet with an adequate supply of potable water, soap and single-use towels.

"Potable water" means water that meets the standards of drinking purposes of the state or local authority having jurisdiction or water that meets the quality standards prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, published in 40 CFR Part 141.

"Toilet facility" means a fixed or portable facility designed for the purpose of adequate collection and containment of the products of both defecation and urination which is supplied with toilet paper adequate to employee needs. Toilet facility includes biological, chemical, flush and combustion toilets and sanitary privies.

(c) Requirements. Agricultural employers shall provide the following for employees engaged in hand-labor operations in the field, without cost to the employee:

(1) Potable drinking water.

(i) Potable water shall be provided and placed in locations readily accessible to all employees.

(ii) The water shall be suitably cool and in sufficient amounts, taking into account the air temperature, humidity and the nature of the work performed, to meet the needs of all employees.

(iii) The water shall be dispensed in single-use drinking cups or by fountains. The use of common drinking cups or dippers is prohibited.

(2) Toilet and handwashing facilities.

(i) One toilet facility and one handwashing facility shall be provided for each twenty (20) employees or fraction thereof, except as stated in paragraph (c)(2)(v) of this chapter.

(ii) Toilet facilities shall be adequately ventilated, appropriately screened, have self-closing doors that can be closed and latched from the inside and shall be constructed to insure privacy.

(iii) Toilet and handwashing facilities shall be accessibly located and in close proximity to each other. The facilities shall be located within a one-quarter-mile walk of each hand laborer's place of work in the field.

(iv) Where due to terrain it is not feasible to locate facilities as required above, the facilities shall be located at the point of closest vehicular access.

(v) Toilet and handwashing facilities are not required for employees who perform field work for a period of three hours or less (including transportation time to and from the field) during the day.

(3) Maintenance. Potable drinking water and toilet and handwashing facilities shall be maintained in accordance with appropriate public health sanitation practices, including the following:

(i) Drinking water containers shall be constructed of materials that maintain water quality, shall be refilled daily or more often as necessary, shall be kept covered and shall be regularly cleaned.

(ii) Toilet facilities shall be operational and maintained in clean and sanitary condition.

(iii) Handwashing facilities shall be refilled with potable water as necessary to ensure an adequate supply and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition; and

(iv) Disposal of wastes from facilities shall not cause unsanitary conditions.

(4) Reasonable Use. The employer shall notify each employee of the location of the sanitation facilities and water and shall allow each employee reasonable opportunities during the workday to use them. The employer also shall inform each employee of the importance of each of the following good hygiene practices to minimize exposure to the hazards in the field of heat, communicable diseases, retention of urine and agrichemical residues:

(i) Use the water and facilities provided for drinking, handwashing and elimination;

(ii) Drink water frequently and especially on hot days;

(iii) Urinate as frequently as necessary;

(iv) Wash hands both before and after using the toilet; and

(v) Wash hands before eating and smoking.

(d) Dates

(1) Effective Date. This chapter shall take effect on May 30, 1987.

(2) Startup Dates. Employers must comply with the requirements of paragraphs:

(i) Paragraph (c)(1), to provide potable drinking water, by May 30, 1987;

(ii) Paragraph (c)(2), to provide handwashing and toilet facilities, by July 30, 1987;

(iii) Paragraph (c)(3), to provide maintenance for toilet and handwashing facilities, by July 30, 1987; and

(iv) Paragraph (c)(4), to assure reasonable use, by July 30, 1987.

[52 F.R. 16095, May 1, 1987]

Historical Notes

Derived from VR425-02-13, eff. July 1, 1987; amended, eff. November 15, 1987, eff. February 15, 1988; Volume 28, Issue 23, eff. September 15, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 40.1-22(5) of the Code of Virginia.