About the PSAI
Mission
It is the mission of the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) to expand and improve portable sanitation services and facilities worldwide and to be recognized as the authority within our industry.
Vision
The PSAI is an organization which:
• Is recognized Internationally as the credible, authoritative voice of the portable sanitation industry.
• Continues to educate the industry, general public and government entities and provides tools to promote safety and health.
• Represents International members through a regional network and assists and promotes the setting of standards and services as a repository of information and resources for all. Through our efforts, the environment is a cleaner, safer place.
Scope
The portable sanitation industry has developed into a 1.5 billion dollar a year business. Worldwide, there are an estimated 1,400,000 portable restrooms in use, serviced by a fleet of 9,400 trucks.
Applications
• Construction and various work sites- commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
• Parks and recreation- parks, campgrounds, pools, private homes, etc.
• Government agencies- military facilities, etc.
• Sporting events- stadiums, auto races, golf tournaments, etc.
• Outdoor public gatherings- concerts, festivals, fairs, etc.
• Disaster relief- floods, fires, hurricanes and earthquakes
• Permanent human settlement areas
Benefits of Portable Sanitation
Cost Savings
Portable sanitation provides significant labor savings by minimizing lost labor time associated with leaving the site to use the restroom. The average time needed to make an off-site restroom visit is 7 minutes including travel time. According to the University of Missouri-St. Louis study, “Provision of Sanitation Facilities at Construction Sites”, contractors earned an 850% return on their investment in portable facilities.
Health
Portable sanitation provides sanitation facilities where sewer and water are not conveniently available, enhancing the health and environmental factors associated with a project or event.
Health Officials: Builds goodwill and support from health authorities, OSHA inspectors and environmentalists.
Work Force: Outdoor workers who appreciate clean toilets have higher productivity and morale.
Investors: Assures site and building owners that clean conditions are maintained on their property.
Environmental
Portable sanitation conserves water by using only 6 gallons of clean water to contain the 30 gallons of waste generated by a 10 worker crew during one 40-hour work week. The same personnel, using conventional water flush toilets, could waste up to 2,500 gallons of clean water needed to carry away the 30 gallons of waste they generate.
Standards
Rental Types
Route Units: Portable sanitation facilities placed on construction sites or other locations that require regularly scheduled service.
Special Event Units: Portable sanitation facilities placed on a site on a short term basis that require irregular or on-demand service.
Usage
Route Units: On a construction site, each weekly serviced toilet unit can accommodate 10 workers (working a single 40-hour shift) ANSI Z4.3-2005.
Special Event Units: Each unit can accommodate approximately 200 uses with 4 hours between uses before service is required. The American with Disability Act requires that 5% of all units ordered be wheelchair accessible, or a minimum of one per each order.
Special Event Usage Guide (PDF)
Service
The minimum established standard for route units is weekly service and for special event units when at 1/3 tank capacity.
1. Pumping or evacuating the effluent from the portable toilet receptacle into the truck holding tank.
2. Recharging the portable toilet receptacle.
3. Cleaning the interior of the portable toilet by scrubbing with brushes and towel drying.
4. Providing toilet tissue.
5. Performing minor repairs to the portable toilet as needed.
Effluent is disposed of at licensed and approved disposal sites as needed. Officially approved disposal sites can be found by consulting with local health officials.
PSAI Standards
The PSAI develops standards directed toward providing clean, sanitary restroom facilities for any gathering of people who do not have adequate permanent facilities close at hand. The PSAI recommends standards to the International Code Council (ICC), OSHA, Council of American Building Officials (CABO), IAPMO and various other country, state, county and local regulatory agencies.
• ANSI Standards
• ANSI Z4.1 - Sanitation in Places of Employment
• ANSI Z4.3 – Nonsewered Waste Disposal Systems
• ANSI Z4.4 - Sanitation in Field & Temporary Labor Camps
• Special Event Standards
History Timeline:
• 1970 - A group of business leaders in the portable sanitation industry meet at the Marriott Twin Towers in Washington, D.C. to discuss mutual problems and issues. Out of this meeting emerges the framework for the formation of a formal trade association- The Portable Sanitation Association International.
• 1971 - The first PSAI Convention is held in New Orleans, LA, managed by a committee elected during the first gathering in Washington, D.C. The Chairman and Executive Committee, later to become the Board of Directors, chose a professional management firm, Executive Consultants, Inc., to manage the business affairs of the Association.
• 1972 - Miami Beach Convention, Larry Miller & Associates is hired to manage the Association, replacing Executive Consultants, Inc.
• 1982 - The PSAI Board of Directors voted to hire an Executive Director to manage the affairs of the association.
• 1985 – The PSAI provides testimony and input into the OSHA hearings and writings of the OSHA Field Worker's Sanitation Regulations setting sanitation standards for farm workers.
• 1987 - ANSI Standards Z4.1, Z4.3, Z4.4 related to worker sanitation were successfully revised and published through the coordination of PSAI. The standards establish a 1:10 ratio for number of units per number of workers.
• 1987 - The PSAI National Health Committee was formed to bring together representatives of the general public, professional sanitarians and government and industry leaders to develop a legislative program for improving sanitation at work sites and special events. This committee later developed into our Industry Standards and Marketing Committee.
• 1988 - Independent studies in construction and recreation by the University of Missouri document the economic and health benefits resulting from the use of additional, properly located portable sanitation units. Out of this study developed, "Portable Restroom Requirements at Special Events and Crowd Gatherings-Sanitarian and Health Officials Guide."
• 1992- The PSAI initiates the Portable Sanitation Worker Certification program that serves as an impartial measure of a portable sanitation worker's competence and understanding of the sanitary and health requirements mandatory to the industry.
• 1993 – M.Z. “Andy Gump” Award established. The M.Z. "Andy" Gump Distinguished Service Award is a lifetime achievement award honoring those that have improved the image of the industry and have created innovative approaches for sanitation needs through new and improved products and services.
• 1996 - The International Portable Sanitation Working Group (IPSWG) was formed. The Group is comprised of representatives from the Portable Sanitation Association International, Portable Sanitation Europe, Portable Sanitation Germany (BDE - Bundesverband der Deuschen Entsorgungswirtschaft e.V.) and the Ontario Waste Haulers Association. The mission of the IPSWG is to expand and improve portable sanitation services and facilities, to collaborate with organizations within the portable sanitation industry and to promote the setting and enforcement of standards worldwide. The PSAI would act as secretary for the group.
• 1996 – The State of Minnesota approved the PSAI Certification Program as meeting the requirements for licensing / continuing education.
• 1998 – The www.psai.org website was created to better maintain communications with our members, the portable sanitation industry and the markets we serve.
• 2001 – Service Technician of the Year Award established. The Service Technician of the Year award is an annual award acknowledging the service technicians that actively embody the highest standards of our industry worldwide.
• 2003 – International collaborative agreement signed between Portable Sanitation Europe – A Division of the Hire Association Europe, Portable Sanitation Germany Committee – A Division of the BDE, German Waste Management Association and the Ontario Canada Sewage and Liquid Waste Haulers Association. These organizations agreed that the furtherance of the portable sanitation industry would be served by a great degree of collaboration and co-operation between organizations.
• 2003 – The PSAI, in conjunction with OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety Health, drafted a revision to OSHA regulation 1926.51 – Toilets at Construction Jobsite requiring a 1 unit to 10-worker ratio. This draft was approved by the full ACCSH Committee. Unfortunately, due to the 911 attacks on the World Trade Center, OSHA cleared its agenda deleting the revision. • 2004 – PSAI Certification Program translated into Spanish.
• 2004 – The PSAI produced a service technician training video to compliment the PSAI Certification Program.
• 2004- Special Events requirements revised with the approval of the University of Missouri.
• 2005 – Sioux City, Iowa passed ordinance 205-05-77 requiring companies to be PSAI Certified to conduct portable restroom business within the city.
• 2006 – The State of Alabama approved the PSAI Certification Program as meeting the requirements for licensing / continuing education.
• 2006 / 2007 – PSAI Certification manual revised to include servicing hand washing stations and restroom trailers.
• 2007 – The State of Illinois approved PSAI Certification as meeting the licensing requirements for the state. The Illinois Department of Health is currently revising the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal code to reflect this change.
• 2008 – The PSAI conducted its first training session for the State of Michigan. Michigan recently approved the PSAI Certification Program as meeting the requirement for licensing and continuing education
Cost of Service