Portable Sanitation Association International

ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JULY 22, 2020 Page 19 Continued on page 20 The remark of one operator summarized this challenge well: "We do the absolute best that we can, given the constraints of the equipment that we have, and we communicate [the limitations] in advance to our customer." Hand Wash Stations and Sanitizer Stands The COVID-19 pandemic has created a situation in which, at times, the demand for hand wash stations has far outstripped supply. As the situation stretches on, the goal for most operators at this point is to meet the demand of as many customers as possible, considering that hand washing is an important tool in battling the virus. Though it seems almost amazing in retrospect, our industry has historically had a difficult time selling customers on the idea of hand wash stations. Consequently, the number of models available and their amenities has not been as expansive as some other types of portable equipment. Of particular note for the purposes of this article, is that portable hand wash stations are generally not ADA- compliant. Now, as the demand for hand washing is exploding, this gap a very clear issue our industry needs to address. Operators and suppliers must offer input and ideas to address the need for ADA compliant hand wash stations. It might be considered a "future problem" because the emphasis is still laser focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19 with help from whatever hand washing resources are available. But the PSAI's leaders observe that the pandemic seems to have created a "tipping point" in acceptance of this equipment. So, it is likely to be in ongoing demand, and with that demand will come the need for ADA-accessible hand washing solutions. This is clearly going to need the best thinking of engineering minds, both to deal with the ADA-accessibility challenges and general challenges for these units such as keeping them operable in temperature below the freezing point of water. Hand sanitizing stations are often viewed as an acceptable alternative to hand washing. And there is a bit more flexibility for modifications. One operator suggested sanitizer stands with shortened support poles. He observed, however, that with the number of sinks his firm has in the field right now, getting enough of the stands "would be impossible; and how would I get the customer to pay for another product—particularly one where handicapped people still cannot wash their hands?" Another operator noted the only possible immediate answer would be to either lower the height of all sanitizer stands to be ADA compliant, or to deliver a second ADA-accessible sanitizer station and place it next to the standard height station that is already there. ADA Compliance 30 Years On…Continued from page 14 A hand wash unit modified for handicap use. Poles like this could be shortened to be more accessible.

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