Portable toilets play a critical role in maintaining hygiene and public health at events, worksites, and community projects across Western Australia. But when they’re not properly serviced, cleaned, or managed, they can quickly become a source of health risk, spreading harmful bacteria and creating unsafe conditions for users and nearby environments.
That’s why the Department of Health WA has established clear guidelines to protect the community from sanitation-related risks. At Instant Toilets & Showers, we take these standards seriously, delivering fully compliant, hygienic portable toilets that keep your site safe, your users protected, and your reputation intact.
What Constitutes a Public Health Risk?
Under the Public Health Act 2016 (WA), a public health risk refers to any situation that could cause (or has the potential to cause) disease, illness, or harm to human health or wellbeing. In the context of portable toilets, that means anything from exposure to untreated waste and unsanitary conditions, to the improper management of cleaning or waste removal processes.
The Act identifies two key levels of risk:
- Serious public health risk – situations where the potential harm is irreversible, has a high impact, or occurs on a wide scale (for example, contamination of soil or groundwater from sewage overflow).
- Material public health risk – situations where harm isn’t catastrophic, but is still significant enough to threaten people’s health (such as users contracting gastroenteritis or hepatitis from poor hygiene or cross-contamination).
Importantly, “harm” under the Act goes beyond physical illness. It also covers psychological harm, such as stress or discomfort caused by unhygienic or unsafe facilities. In portable sanitation, this means the duty of care extends well beyond just installing toilets. It’s about ensuring users can rely on safe, clean, and properly serviced units that protect public health at every step.
How Poor Maintenance Can Lead to Harm
When portable toilets aren’t properly serviced or maintained, the risks to public health increase quickly. Human waste contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can spread disease if not contained and removed safely.
According to the WA Department of Health, the core aim of temporary toilet management is to break the chain of disease transmission, stopping pathogens from moving between people, waste, food, and water.
Poor Servicing and Hygiene Neglect
When toilets aren’t serviced frequently enough, waste tanks overflow, odours build up, and supplies such as soap or sanitiser run out. This allows bacteria to multiply and spread through user contact. People may leave with contaminated hands, touching food, tools, or communal surfaces, potentially leading to gastroenteritis, hepatitis, or other infections.
Inadequate Waste Containment
If tanks leak or are overfilled, sewage can seep into the surrounding soil or groundwater, posing a significant environmental and health hazard. Under WA legislation, this is considered a serious public health risk because the potential harm is both high-impact and long-term.
Lack of Proper Cleaning
Failure to regularly disinfect surfaces like door handles, toilet seats, and wash basins enables the spread of harmful microorganisms. The World Health Organization refers to this as the “faecal–oral transmission route”, when pathogens in waste are passed indirectly through contaminated hands, surfaces, or food.
Key WA Guidelines for Compliant Portable Toilets
The Department of Health WA sets out detailed standards to help ensure temporary toilets are safe, hygienic, and fit for purpose. These requirements cover everything from how toilets are built, to how they’re serviced and positioned on-site. For anyone hiring portable toilets, understanding these basics is essential to avoid public health risks and meet the general public health duty under the Public Health Act 2016 (WA).
1. Design and Construction Standards
According to the guideline, all temporary toilets must be designed to prevent any direct or indirect contact between people and waste. Toilets should be:
- Built from smooth, corrosion-resistant, and washable materials
- Durable and stable under local conditions, including strong winds and rough handling during transport
- Watertight and leak-proof, particularly around the waste tank and connection points
- Fitted with adequate ventilation and lighting to maintain usability and comfort
- Installed in a way that ensures privacy and security, including emergency-release locks
These design elements are what separate compliant, health-safe toilets from the cheaper, non-compliant alternatives that often cause problems on worksites and at public events.
2. Waste Containment and Removal
Toilets must have a proper sewage holding tank or be connected directly to a sewer. The tank must be sealed, correctly sized, and easy to pump out without spillage.
The Department also highlights that regular monitoring and prompt action are critical. If an overflow or leak occurs, it must be cleaned immediately, following the Wastewater Overflow Response Procedures.
3. Hygienic Provisions
Every toilet must include:
- A handwashing facility with soap and potable running water, or an approved alcohol-based sanitiser
- Hand-drying facilities (paper towels or hand dryers)
- Toilet paper and waste bins, including sanitary disposal units where required
Regular restocking of these consumables is also part of the compliance requirement and not just good practice.
4. Service and Cleaning Frequency
Portable toilets must be kept in sanitary and operational condition at all times. The servicing frequency depends on usage, but the standard expectation is that:
- Tanks are pumped and cleaned on a set schedule, in line with supplier guidance
- Surfaces are disinfected regularly to remove harmful microorganisms
- Consumables are restocked frequently
- This schedule should be documented and carried out by trained service staff to ensure accountability.
5. Accessibility and Inclusivity
WA’s guideline also stresses the importance of accessibility. Where portable toilets are provided, organisers and site managers must also consider ambulant and wheelchair-accessible facilities designed in line with AS1428.1:2021 (Design for Access and Mobility).
- Sufficient internal circulation space for wheelchairs
- Grab rails, lowered fixtures, and braille signage
- Ramps or flat access for mobility aid users
6. Correct Placement and Access
Toilets should be located:
- On flat, stable ground within the site boundary
- In safe, accessible locations that are easy for users and service vehicles to reach
- Away from food service areas, stormwater drains, or environmentally sensitive zones
Correct siting ensures both public safety and ease of maintenance, especially during large-scale or multi-day events.
How Instant Toilets & Showers Meets (and Exceeds) WA Health Standards
At Instant Toilets & Showers, compliance with WA Health standards is part of the job. Every toilet, shower, and ablution unit we provide is built and maintained to meet the Department of Health WA’s Guideline for the Management of Public Health Risks Associated with Temporary Toilets.
Our range covers everything from single cubicles to large ablution blocks and accessible units. Each one is made for safe waste handling, easy cleaning, and dependable performance. We follow the guidelines closely so every hire meets the standard for hygiene, safety, and public health.
Built for Compliance and Durability
Each Instant Toilets & Showers portable toilet is designed and manufactured using corrosion-resistant, smooth, and washable materials, meeting the Department’s criteria for safe construction.
Many of our units also connect directly to sewer systems, providing the most hygienic waste management solution available. Where that’s not possible, sealed waste tanks and integrated venting systems ensure safe containment with zero leakage risk.
Advanced Hygiene and Monitoring Systems
We use SAFE-T-FRESH sanitation products across our fleet to maintain cleanliness and control odours between services. These products help keep units fresh, hygienic, and ready for high-traffic use.
For larger toilet blocks and long-term sites, we also offer our Toilet-iQ Monitoring System. This technology allows our team to track servicing intervals and respond quickly when maintenance is needed. It’s an extra layer of assurance for clients who require consistent, high-volume sanitation management.
Regular Servicing and Professional Waste Management
We follow a structured servicing program that meets the Department of Health’s standards for cleaning, waste removal, and hygiene. Our team manages every stage of maintenance on site, including tank emptying, surface disinfection, and restocking of consumables such as toilet paper and soap. Each service is recorded and reviewed to ensure every facility stays clean, functional, and compliant.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
ITS supplies AS1428.1-compliant ambulant and wheelchair-accessible toilets and shower units that provide safe and easy access for all users. Our Five Star Disabled Accessible Ablution units include wide doorways, grab rails, non-slip flooring, and full internal circulation space. Every feature is designed to meet Western Australia’s accessibility standards and provide comfort and safety for every user.
Certified, Local, and Trusted
Instant Toilets & Showers is ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental), and ISO 45001 (Health & Safety) certified, which is proof of our commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
As a Western Australian-owned and operated business, we understand the environmental and regulatory conditions unique to our state. That local knowledge, paired with over two decades of experience, makes us the trusted choice for government departments, event organisers, and construction professionals who can’t afford to compromise on safety or compliance.
Keeping WA Safe, Clean, and Compliant
Choosing a local provider matters when it comes to safety and compliance. At Instant Toilets & Showers, every portable toilet for hire is maintained to meet the Department of Health WA’s public health standards.
If you need portable toilets for hire in Western Australia, trust the team that knows the standards and follows them. Call 08 9406 6600 or contact us to arrange the right setup for your event or worksite.
Managing Director at Instant Toilets & Showers
Scott Rawson is the Managing Director of Instant Products Group, a specialist group of companies that offer portable building solutions, including sea containers, transportable offices, and portable sanitation products. With more than 20 years of experience in various management positions and a finalist in the WA Business News 40 under 40 awards in 2013, Scott is a highly motivated entrepreneur that has a passion for designing products to suit the needs of individual markets. From the creation of Instant Products Group over 20 years ago, he has successfully grown the group into a multi-million dollar corporation and his success is widely recognised in Western Australia. Scott is dedicated to expanding Instant Products Group nationally and providing high-quality products to a range of sectors, including mining, engineering, property development, and government.