Showers

The majority of requirements for showers in 29 CFR 1910.142 also apply to bathing areas or cooking areas; therefore, you have already learned about most of the requirements for showers in temporary workspaces.

As a refresher, here are the requirements according to standard 29 CFR 1910.142:

• An "adequate and convenient water supply" must be provided for bathing (as well as for drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry).
• This "adequate and convenient water supply" must be "approved by the appropriate health authority."
• This water supply must provide hot and cold water. Therefore, temporary living quarters must have facilities for heating water.
• There must be a ratio of one shower head per 10 people.
• Shower baths and shower rooms must have floor drains to remove waste water and also to allow for cleaning the rooms.
• Shower room walls must be "smooth and impervious to the height of splash."
• Buildings used for bathing must have a minimum of one slop sink. (Note that OSHA does not define a slop sink, but it is generally accepted to be a large sink specifically designed for messy and dirty tasks, such as dumping used mop water.)

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