What is a handwashing station and how does it work?
A portable handwashing sink is a self-contained unit. Fresh water sits in a top tank, usually 5 gallons, and gravity or a foot pump pushes it through a spigot into a basin. Wastewater drains into a holding tank underneath so nothing hits the ground. Most units include a soap dispenser and a paper towel holder built into the frame, which matters because 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) requires soap and towels or a hand drying device, not sanitizer alone. Some crews pair a station with a standard porta potty rental so the toilet and the sink sit side by side. Others run them stand-alone next to a deluxe flushable porta potty for events that want a nicer setup, or beside an ADA accessible porta potty rental when the site needs both. If you already have a restroom trailer rental with built-in sinks, you may not need a separate station at all, though busy sites in Wyoming often add one anyway to cut the line at the trailer door, especially on a 4 stall restroom trailer or 8 stall restroom trailer setup.
Why do construction sites in Wyoming need a handwashing station?
Because plain toilets are not the whole requirement. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets toilet counts by crew size, one facility for 20 workers or fewer, and separately, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) requires washing facilities where workers apply paints, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, since those jobs leave contaminants on the skin. A framing crew painting trim or a landscaping crew spraying herbicide on a Wyoming construction dumpster rental site falls under that rule directly. OSHA 1926.51(a)(1) also calls for an adequate supply of potable water at any place of employment, and a 5 gallon handwash station is the simplest way to cover that on a site with no hookup yet, the same gap a holding tank rental fills for wastewater. We deliver these alongside temporary fence rental and light tower rental packages for general contractors working sites from Grandville, 4.0 miles west, out to Kentwood, 6.4 miles east.
Where should a handwashing station be placed on site?
Right next to the toilets or the food prep area, not off in a corner. Foot traffic decides whether people actually use it, so keep the path flat and short. If the unit needs to be usable by someone in a wheelchair, ADA guidance calls for at least 36 inches of clear route width under ADA Standards section 403.5.1 and a 60 inch turning circle under ADA Standards section 304.3.1, plus a reach range topping out at 48 inches per ADA Standards section 308.2.1. Surfaces need to be stable and slip resistant under ADA Standards section 302.1, which rules out loose gravel or soft turf right at the basin. For food vendors at a market or fair, check with the health department on required distance from prep tables before the trucks show up; that spacing question sits outside what we can answer here, though it's worth reviewing alongside our porta potty placement guide. We can walk the layout with you on delivery, the same way we do for event restroom rental setups and festival restroom rental jobs across Wyoming.
Do I need a handwashing station sign posted?
Some job sites and health departments want signage at the unit reminding workers or the public to wash before eating or after using the restroom. We can supply a handwash station sign with delivery on request. It is a small add-on, not a separate rental category, so ask when you book, the same way you'd ask about temporary fence cost add-ons for a fenced site. Pair it with a porta potty rental checklist so nothing gets missed before an inspection.
Pricing
| unit | duration | price |
|---|---|---|
| handwash delivery | week | 50 to 150 |
| handwash delivery | month | 120 to 420 |
| standard porta potty (paired) | day | 100 to 350 |
| standard porta potty (paired) | week | 130 to 500 |
Delivery fees vary with distance and how many units go out together. A single station added to an existing portable toilet rental order usually rides on the same delivery trip, which keeps the added cost low. Ask about bundling with a porta potty monthly rental if the job runs long, or with a storage container rental if the site needs both sanitation and secure storage. For exact numbers on your site, see porta potty rental cost or porta potty rental per day for short jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How many handwash stations do I need?
One station per 20 workers is a reasonable baseline, matching the same ratio OSHA 1926.51(c) uses for toilets. Farms with hand-labor crews should look at OSHA 1928.110, which sets one facility per 20 employees within a quarter mile walk, a ratio worth checking against our how many porta potties do I need guide. Bigger crews need more than one station spread across the site, not one unit everyone lines up for.
Can I rent a handwashing station without a porta potty?
Yes. Plenty of customers rent just the sink, especially food trucks, farm stands and small crews doing renovation work. Check home renovation porta potty if you want to add a toilet later. The station ships and bills on its own, no bundle required.
Is hand sanitizer a substitute for a handwashing station?
No. 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) requires soap and running water or a hand drying device; sanitizer does not satisfy it. We do rent hand sanitizer station rental units as a supplement, useful near entrances, but they don't replace a wash station where the rule applies, and a portable sink rental is the better fit once real washing is required.
How often does the water tank need refilling?
That depends on crew size and use, but a 5 gallon tank on a low-traffic site can run several days between fills. Busier sites, like a county fair restrooms setup, need daily service. We can schedule refills as part of your septic pumping service route if you already have one running in Wyoming.
Does Wyoming Porta Pros deliver to nearby towns too?
Yes. We regularly deliver to Georgetown, 9.1 miles west, Walker, 11.9 miles north, and Plainfield, 16.7 miles north, alongside every job inside Wyoming itself. Check service areas for the full list or request a quote directly.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.