Utterly sick of disgusting toilets at work

[Cablestitches]

NHS

Old infrastructure.

Toilets have been shit (literally) for years. Last six months they have been particularly bad. Problems with the sewage pipes which essentially means we are greeting with the smell of shit at 8am and assaulted with the aroma until we go home.

You never quite know what will greet you when you go into the toilet

• toilet overflowing and shit all over the floor
• no water in toilet and dried up backflow shit in the toilet
• 50/50 if the flush will work and you might just be leaving your own shit behind
• No hot water for washing hands (just wash twice as long with cold water?!)

It has been reported and reported and reported for months. They come out to “fix” it and it’s the same issue the next day. We’ve now been told it won’t ever be fixed as it’s an old system which needs tearing out and putting back in again.

It is utterly fucking foul and I am sick of working in this environment day in day out.

its like a scene from Seven with multiple air freshers hung all over the place so we can breathe in summer breeze scented shit instead 😡

Can you escalate it to the NHS Trust's Facilities or Estates department? Overflow of raw sewage is a health risk. If the toilets need replaced and new waste pipes installed this should be actioned.
You could also contact your union about working conditions. Access to functioning toilets is a basic need.

In the short term, are there other toilets available on a different floor or department? If there are, could you go there instead?

I would seriously think about refusing to work in those conditions.

Report it to environmental health department.

We’ve now been told it won’t ever be fixed as it’s an old system which needs tearing out and putting back in again.

Well then that's what they should bloody well be doing. This sounds appalling and totally unacceptable.

We’ve had all the suits down here from Estates and Facilities many times.

We’re in an old “temporary” pre fab which was supposed to be pulled down years ago. But houses twice the amount of staff it was designed for. Because patients don’t use them they don’t seem to give a fuck.

I can walk to the main site between meetings - and have done many times when it’s really bad. It doesn’t help the delightful aroma throughout the day though.

Union is aware and keep hassling the trust but it doesn’t seem to do anything

Just been down and there’s now a sign saying “do not flush toilets 2 & 4”

Toilet 1 looks like something from Trainspotting so everyone is using toilet 3!!

So toilet 3 is going to be a health hazard before the end of the morning.

Contact your union again today if facilities/estates haven't got an action plan. The toilet to staff ratio is too low if more than 5 staff use those toilets. Toilet provision must be in a clean and orderly state.

If only 1 toilet is functioning, that provides facilities for 1-5 staff.
If toilet 1 could be cleaned immediately that would be 2 available toilets for 6-25. If you have more staff onsite than this, it is a health and safety breach. Get your whistle blower policy for safety risks.

Inadequate, unsanitary toilets could cause illness. Ventilation and cleanliness should be maintained. Functioning waste pipes are essential. An ageing infrastructure or pre-fab buildings does not remove the legal requirements for provision.

You should also have hot and cold running water. It is unacceptable that in you do not have access to a basic need in the workplace.

Do all staff use these toilets or do some have access to a better standard? If senior staff don't use/see them ask them to do so. Share your concern about safety and infection risk as well as staff wellbeing with ongoing exposure to contaminants and foul odour.

We have nosed toilets at work. They’re fine from the fact that they are enclosed cubicles with sinks inside but Christ the piss on the floor from the men is utterly revolting. Different to your issue but sympathy. I’ve taken to going over the road to the coffee shop to use the toilet.

Report to the Care Quality Commission? Aren’t they ones that oversee NHS health and safety?

Report it to the Health and Safety Executive. This is a contravention of Workplace Regulations 1992. There is a number and an online form you can use.
HSE can get the facilities shut down and can insist proper repairs are done. I'm surprised that any union rep who knows about this hasn't done so already!