COVID-19: SAFETY IN SHARED SANITATION FACILITIES-Toilets

06 Aug COVID-19: SAFETY IN SHARED SANITATION FACILITIES-Toilets

A large and growing proportion of the global population relies on shared facilities despite evidence of potential health risks it poses. Inadequate or unimproved sanitation has been associated with being poorly managed. By shared sanitation facilities, we mean shared toilet facilities.

The proportion of people depending on shared toilets is higher in developed countries(16%) and 33% of the urban population in developed nations depends on shared sanitation. 

Shared sanitation, according to the World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund Joint Monitoring Programme for water and sanitation (JMP), refers to the sanitation of an otherwise acceptable type shared between two or more households. It represents a growing proportion of sanitation options available to low-income and poorer households.

Housing facilities in Lagos popularly called, “face me-I-face you” are known for having shared sanitation facilities, also slums, toilets in public spaces, and pay per use facilities can also be classified under shared facilities.

As these shared sanitation facilities help in achieving one goal of having a place to do your “bowel business” without defacing the environment; it can also pose a threat of spreading the COVID-19 virus to its users, especially when used by an infected person. 

Shared facilities could become sources of both airborne and contact exposure to COVID-19(SARS-COV-2), especially in the absence of adequate water and soap for hygiene purposes. The virus remains viable for days on surfaces like stainless steels and plastics used on doors and other surfaces within the toilet.

As a mobile toilet facility company, we have implemented safety guidelines to keep our users safe while using our services, check our Notes to Event Planners. We have selected a few of our guidelines and modified them to suit other shared sanitation spaces so users of them are kept safe from the virus.

Shared sanitation facilities safety guidelines to adopt:

1. Disinfecting of sanitation facilities weekly. If your budget can accommodate a daily disinfection service, then yes daily disinfection should be implemented.
2. The positioning of a handwashing facility outside a shared sanitation facility. Washing hands with soap and water have been proven to help wash the virus off our hands.
3. Users of shared sanitation spaces are advised to not stay too long in them. Do your business and leave.
4. Users of shared sanitation facilities should always have alcohol-based hand sanitizers for use, in the absence of a wash hand station or in cases where they have touched any surface while exiting the sanitation facility.
5. sanitation workers of shared sanitation facilities should wear personal protective equipment.

Users of unimproved shared sanitation facilities need to take extra precautions because their sanitation option puts them at a greater risk for the spread of the virus.