Women share toilets on one in five sites claims union

Aaron Morby 7 years ago
Share

Nearly one in five construction sites still force men and women to share toilets despite industry efforts to attract more women into construction.

A survey of over 3,500 workers found that many are forced to endure entirely inadequate toilets and washing facilities.

The survey of construction union Unite members found that on 17% of sites there were no separate facilities for women workers.

Unite members tend to work on a mix of larger sites and housing maintenance projects where there are issues of mobile working.

In total, 18% of respondents’ rated their workplaces as having poor toilet facilities and 10% of sites did not supply toilet paper.

Just over half of respondents said that their workplace did not have any showers.

Even when showers were provided in 16% of cases there were no separate showers for women.

Survey comments

  • “There are 30 toilets for 2,500 men you have to queue to use them”
  • “We need more toilets and cleaner toilets with better privacy the toilets one have half doors”
  • “More toilets at workface not a 10-15 minute walk away”
  • “Our shower blocks and toilets are in serious need of updating, the toilets smell and the showers are mouldy”.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “This survey must act as a wake-up call to the construction industry.

“In the 21st century there is no excuse for any workplace not to provide clean and decent welfare facilities.

“Companies that fail to provide decent welfare facilities can and should be prosecuted and this is an area where Unite is working with the Health and Safety Executive to ensure standards are improved.”

Latest news

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
6 hours ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
6 hours ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
6 hours ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
1 day ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
6 hours ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
5 hours ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
14 hours ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
1 day ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
1 day ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
1 day ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
2 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
2 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
1 day ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
2 days ago

Major Building Safety Regulator shake-up to end tower delays

HSE stripped of control and top fire chiefs brought in to fast-track stalled schemes
2 days ago

Hinkley trio sign Sizewell civils deal

Balfour,Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke form Civil Works Alliance for new power station
2 days ago

£3.9bn data centre plan for Ravenscraig steelworks

Green energy to power massive new steel to silicon AI campus
2 days ago

Breakthrough on HS2’s second longest tunnel

8.4 mile Northolt to Old Oak Common drive completes
2 days ago

Neilcott on fast-track to debt-free employee ownership

£22.5m loan nearly paid down after big profit year
2 days ago

TfL kicks off race for £700m Tube station upgrade

South Kensington and Elephant & Castle top the pipeline list
2 days ago

Corbyn Plant Hire fleet goes under the hammer

Kit to be sold off by sister firm to collapsed groundworks contractor
2 days ago

Government wields procurement stick on late payment

New rules would block slow payers from bidding on big public jobs
5 days ago

Hercules buys power line labour firm for £15.7m

Labour supply specialist snaps up Advantage NRG to tap booming electricity upgrade market
5 days ago

Universal bid to fast-track planning for theme park

Entertainment giant eyes 2026 start at Bedford site
5 days ago

Developer Breck to transform former Ibstock brick factory

Ravenhead works to become 300-home development
5 days ago

SP Energy Networks awards contracts worth £1.4bn

First round of awards under £5.4bn national electricity grid upgrade programme
6 days ago

Travelodge to convert Liverpool Street office building

Office-to-hotel conversion in City of London
5 days ago

Plans lodged for 1m sq ft City of London office

Barbican landmark building will reuse 40% of existing structure
6 days ago

PTSG acquires roofing specialist HD Sharman Group

Premier Technical Services Group expands building maintenance division
5 days ago

Balfour Beatty lands £833m carbon capture power plant job

Work to start later this year on Teesside carbon capture gas-fired power station
6 days ago