Female tradies struggle to access clean and properly functioning toilets, new ... trends now
Female tradies are struggling to receive access to clean and properly functioning toilets, according to a new survey.
The Electrical Trades Union national amenities survey found one in five women did not have access to sanitary bins at work.
Women were up to 10 per cent less likely to have access to permanent bathrooms compared to their male counterparts.
Almost half of female respondents said they had raised an issue about inadequate amenities, compared to fewer than 30 per cent of men.
Shockingly, toilet paper, soap, and clean water were often considered luxuries.
Women tradies are struggling to receive access to clean and properly functioning toilets, according to a new survey
One in five female sparkies do not have access to sanitary bins at work
The survey revealed about a quarter of workers did not always have access to toilet paper, while one in five did not always have running water.
Apprentice electrician Carlin, 22, said sparkies faced rough conditions every day which are a barrier to all electricians - but especially women - working in the industry.
'It's pretty much become the cultural norm to try to deal with it and it shouldn't be, because they (toilets and water) are basic human necessities,' she said.
'If you get called out to remote, rural areas, there's not a toilet in sight for hours ... or even if you're in the suburbs.
'Some companies have a depot where you can have a regular point of call in the morning and afternoons.
'But I was out on a contract placement, not with my company ... and I didn't have access to a regular toilet for six months.
'Even when we had portaloos on sites - they weren't particularly for us, but we were able to use them - they weren't sanitary.
'In that toilet, I did not have a sanitary bin for that entire time.'
While Carlin has worked in cities and regionally, she said the most difficult work environments were in rural areas (stock image)
Toilets should be a basic human right in any workplace, but for many tradies it is considered a luxury
Carlin, who is based in Newcastle in NSW, said she had to use fast food eateries and other public toilets during the height of the Covid-19
