Occupational Safety and Health Administration Logs

What are OSHA regulations regarding hot water in office building lavatories?

What are OSHA regulations regarding hot water in office building lavatories? I work in a very nice office building. The lavs are quite modern with self-flushing toilets and automatic faucets & paper towel dispensers. The problem is that with the automatic faucets (i.e. the unit senses your hands beneath the spout and turns water on) water has to run for a long time before any warm/hot water is dispensed. I recently waited 6 minutes for hot water to finally make it from the spout (and personally, I don't have 6 minutes to wait for hot water each time I use the lav). I contacted our facilities department who said they investigated. The problem was not corrected. In our current climate of illness and disease, and with the significant concerns around flu viruses, I want to have hot water to wash my hands after I use the bathroom. Is this a violation of OSHA regulations?

Public Comments

1. I dont think its a OSHA problem I would be inclined to contact the dept of health first
2. Yes, it is in the regs 1910.141(d)(2)(ii) Each lavatory shall be provided with hot and cold running water, or tepid running water. Note it is hot/cold OR tepid. I bet the building owner will claim you are getting tepid. Bottom line "hot" is not required, but OSHA never defines these temperatures or how long you have to wait. You may call your local health department. They will have their own set of rules. For food establishments, there will be a requirement, but maybe not for general buildings.