Self-assessment of public/community toilets based on TBC’s Star Rated Guidelines

Self-assessment of public/community toilets based on TBC’s Star Rated Guidelines

The survey forms for TBC’s quarterly process of self-assessment of toilet facilities by it cohort companies was shared in the first week of April 2022. The data points have steadily grown from 84 in Oct ’21 to 384 in Jan ’22 and now we have data from 451 sites across India, Bangladesh and Zambia. 

 

The self-assessment parameters are across 7 categories covering toilet entrance, general cleanliness, wash area, WC, urinals, safety & security including additional measures during pandemic and smart/digital elements if available in the sanitation facility.

 

All the sites reported that they have clear and easily visible signages where possible and all of them have separate entrance from men and women. These sites are also easily accessible to differently abled users as shown in the chart below.

ramp for wheelchairs

The overall general cleanliness is good in all the sites. The sites have walls and ceiling that are clean, dry and dustless; the floor is clean, dry, intact and litter free; there is absence of malodor in the toilet; ventilation / openings for air are in place and functioning; basic amenities like soap, sanitizers, tissues & bins are in place. A little over half the number of these sites could do better by putting in place resource / water saving devices to reduce their carbon footprint. 

 

By providing maze entrance and partition of urinals and cubicles these sites ensure privacy for toilet users. The data shows that these sites present an opportunity to install suggestion box and educational materials at their premises.

resource & water saving devices are implemented& functioning

suggestions box & educational material are in place

In the wash area, all the sites have taps, hand dryers, litter bins that are clean and in working condition with no leakages or damages to the fittings, fixtures and plumbing. The wash area is overall clean, fairly dry, tidy and litter free. However, there is scope to improve the provision of soap dispensers and tissues and ensure they are in working condition are replenished from time to time.

soap dispensers & tissues are in place, working & filled

In the WC area, all sites have cubicle doors that are clean, functioning and latched; have seat cover wherever western toilet is installed; have bag/coat hooks in place and intact; toilet bowl/squat seat intact and unclogged; cubicle floor is uncluttered, clean and fairly dry; toilet flush is clean and functioning; toilet paper, where provided, is intact and replenished in 80% of the sites; waste bins with liners are in place and clean in 80% of the sites. However, provision of sanitary bins with liners seems to be lacking in nearly majority of the sites.

waste bin with liners is in place

sanitary bin with liners in place

In the safety and security category, all the sites have fully functional internal and external lighting; walls and ceiling intact;  no loose electrical wires; and all cleaning equipment is sanitized regularly. However, non-invasive, privacy respecting surveillance is absent at majority of sites. 

non-invasive, privacy respecting surveillance is in place

With respect to pandemic appropriate behavior, it is observed that at 99% of the sites people are following social distancing norms and they are wearing masks while stepping into the sanitation facilities. It is found that the users are also sanitizing their hands before stepping into the sanitation facilities. Almost all the staff is wearing mask and gloves and but only two thirds of the staff is keeping social distance while interacting with the toilet users.

staff maintain social distancing norms during customer interactions

all common surfaces touched by users are sanitised every two hour

Almost all the sites have footfall counting devices and majority of them have a functioning user feedback device.

user feedback device is in place & functioning

Subscribe to our newsletter