In May 2011 the CLCA Board requested a detailed report from a certified Health Inspector on the conditions of the public washrooms and the shower building in the cabin area. The attached reports were completed in July 2011, and have been presented to the Board and to the 2011 annual general members meeting, and we include them on this web site as general public information.
DATA SHEET: RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
WASHROOMS / SHOWER BUILDINGS – OLD CAMPGROUND
Building construction:
Structure is 2×4 wood framing finished on the exterior with stained/painted wood siding, facia and soffits. All buildings have poured concrete footings and floors. A 15 centimeter (cm) (6 inch) high concrete curbing around the exterior of the floor area. Roofing is asphalt shingles. All buildings have areas of screened openable windows. Shielded fluorescent lights provided in all buildings. All buildings have an exterior concrete sewage dumping station provided with a metal cover and a water supply tap for rinsing the vault. The exception is Building #2 which has an open slop sink as a dump station.
Within the buildings all the toilet stall partitions and the dividers between the urinals and handbasin area are commercially designed painted metal partitions.
Interior finishes:
Shower Building
Floors: Concrete finished with a seamless flooring material
Walls: Painted 20 cm (8 inch) square concrete cinder block walls to a height of 2.4 meters (8 feet). Area above this is stained tongue and grooved wood for approximately 1 meter vertically.
Ceiling: Stained tongue and grooved wood in a peaked roof style.
Shower stalls: Six shower stalls per sex. Ceramic tile covers the cinder block wall partitions in the change/shower cubicles. Floor area in the shower is adequately designed and constructed to flow waste water from the stall into the drainage chanel
Toilet / urinal facilities: One water closet per sex on each side.
Handbasin / countertop areas: One handbasin per sex installed in an arborite covered countertop
Conditions / Comments:
– Cleanliness and interior construction very good.
– *Unfinished treated wood located horizontally on the tops of the shower partitions used to hold galvanized piping holding the shower curtains. This wood would not be considered smooth, durable, non-absorbent and easily cleanable and as such conducive to mold growth.
Recommend replacement with a non-absorbent material eg synthetic planking.
– *The exterior wood siding on the north side of the building is deteriorating due to age and moisture contact with the ground surface. This presents potential for insect and rodents entry into the building envelope. Repairs should be done before the conditions worsen.
Washroom Building # 1
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted asbestos board panelling
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: One floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in an arborite countertop for each sex. Metal trim used around basin and arborite edges as a sealing material.
Conditions / Comments
– The asbestos board (ACM � asbestos containing material) would be considered non-friable and is in good condition.
– General construction and cleanliness conditions considered good.
Washroom Building # 2
Floors: Unpainted concrete
Walls: Painted asbestos board panelling on the ladies side. Painted plywood on the men’s side.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: One floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in an arborite countertop for each sex. Metal trim used around basin and arborite edges as a sealing material.
Conditions / Comments:
– *The unpainted concrete floor makes cleaning more difficult. Recommend resurfacing with paint or the seamless flooring to provide a more non-absorbent and easily cleanable surface.
– The asbestos board (ACM � asbestos containing material) would be considered non-friable and is in good condition.
– *In the men’s washroom the wood paneling is deteriorating at the wall base behind the urinals and the toilet next to it due to moisture damage of the wood over time. Replacement or repairs should be planned.
– *The slop / sewage waste sink should have a lid to prevent flies or other insects contacting waste material and in turn potential transmission of infectious material.
Washroom Building # 3
Floors: Seamless flooring on concrete
Walls: Arborite panels with metal joiners for seams.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: One floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in an arborite countertop for each sex. Metal trim used around basin and arborite edges as a sealing material.
Conditions / Comments:
– *Some small circular holes 2 to 4 cm diameter in the wall of the handicap toilet stall. These would be from the conversion to a handicap stall. The holes should be sealed over.
– The concrete sewage dump box appears to be leaking between the side walls and base.
Washroom Building # 4
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted plywood with wood lathe at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Two basins installed in a newer molded arborite countertop for each sex, and a wall mounted handbasin in each washroom.
Conditions / Comments:
– *The first toilet in the ladies washroom was not flushing clear. Recommend a plumber check it out.
– *The fluorescent light in the ladies washroom was missing it’s protective shield.
– *On the men’s side the vertical painted wood planks along the outside entranceway are rotten at their bases and should be replaced. See photo #5. The door to the mechanical room is delaminated on the lower area.
– *Approximately a 1 meter garden hose attached to potable water system tap was left hanging in the sewage dump box and presents a potential cross connection to the water supply.
Washroom Building #5
Floors: Seamless floor on concrete
Walls: Arborite panels with metal joiner strips.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– *Holes in arborite walls of handicap toilet rooms from conversion to handicap. Holes should be repaired. See example in photo #3 above.
– *The floor mounted urinal has water leaking from around the base and ponding on the floor. This has been going on since last season when repairs failed. This would be considered an insanitary condition due to contaminated sewage waste on the floor. The urinal should be taken out of service till repairs made.
– *The toilet in the men’s handicap toilet should be checked as it may be leaking around the toilet base or may have just plugged and flooded on the long weekend.
– *A piece of garden hose attached to faucet at the sewage dump station which could present a cross contamination if left in the dump station.
Washroom Building #6
Floors: Seamless floor on concrete
Walls: Arborite panels with metal joiner strips.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– Both handicap toilet stalls have holes in the arborite paneling. Holes should be repaired.
Washroom Building #7
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted plywood with wood lathe at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals.
Ceiling: Painted 60 cm2 (2 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two floor mounted urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– *The bases of the wood wall panels behind the urinal starting to decompose.
– *The concrete coving at the wall base in the ladies is uneven which makes it difficult to clean thoroughly.
– *Wood facia on the north side is deteriorating which may allow insect and rodent entry.
Washroom Building #8
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted plywood with wood lathe at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals.
Ceiling: Painted 30 cm2 (1 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two urinal and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– *Concrete coving at wallbase in men’s has rough sections which makes cleaning more difficult.
– *There is a lot of moss growing on the shingles which may eventually allow water leakage into the building and cause mold problems.
Washroom Building #9
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted plywood with wood lathe at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals.
Ceiling: Painted 30 cm2 (1 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two wall hung urinals and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– Corrosion on the metal partitions separating the urinals from the handbasins and the toilet.
Washroom Building #10
Floors: Painted concrete
Walls: Painted plywood with wood lathe at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals.
Ceiling: Painted 30 cm2 (1 ft2) ceiling tiles
Toilet / urinal facilities: Two wall hung urinals and 2 toilets for the men and 3 toilets for the ladies.
Handbasin / countertop areas: Three basins installed in older style arborite countertops with metal joints for edging.
Conditions / Comments:
– *Sewage sump station leaking between the side walls and base.
Notes:
The asterisks “*” identifies comments that should be considered for action.
INSPECTION REPORT:
BRAD KELSO ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CONSULTING
INSPECTION REPORT OF OLD CAMPGROUND WASHROOMS / SHOWER BUILDING RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Prepared by: Brad Kelso
8/4/2011
SUMMMARY
Dwight McMillan, Development Officer at Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) requested Brad Kelso a certified Public Health Inspector to carry out a public health inspection of the washroom and shower buildings in the Old Campground. Inspection data was to assist RMNP and the Old Campground Cottagers Association in their evaluation of the present building conditions and future planning of service needs in the campground.
The purpose of the inspection was to provide a public health evaluation of any structural or operational conditions that may impact on the public health of the campground users or which should be considered in the future planning of services to this cabin area.
The inspection was to be a walk through of the ten washroom buildings and the one shower building with visual observations being made. Observations were to be based on accepted public health principles that materials in the buildings are such that they provide smooth, durable, non-absorbent, easily cleanable surfaces so as to permit easy and thorough cleaning and sanitization in order to prevent the transmission of diseases and infections.
There was a discussion with the cleaning staff of the cleaning and disinfection activities that take place in the buildings. The Park being responsible for cleaning of the buildings and only supplying toilet paper in the toilet cubicles.
Generally the interior structural surfaces and fixtures are in good condition and are being well maintained considering the age. Cleanliness and sanitation was good. There are a number of structural and operational deficiencies that should be addressed as summarized in the Observation section of the report and in the comment sections of the data sheets in Appendix I. These deficiencies would be expected as normal ones for the nature and age of these buildings and there use as communal washrooms and showers.
As with any public building which provides washrooms, proper hygienic practises by the user such as proper handwashing is a major aspect of reducing the risks of communicable disease transmission.
The conditions within the washroom and shower buildings are well maintained structurally and operationally considering the age of the buildings. This would minimize the risk of communicable disease transmission when communal facilities are used. These facilities would meet accepted public health standards.
INTRODUCTION
Dwight McMillan, Development Officer at Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) requested Brad Kelso a certified Public Health Inspector to carry out a public health inspection of the washroom and shower buildings in the Old Campground. Inspection data was to assist RMNP and the Old Campground Cottagers Association in their evaluation of the present building conditions and future planning of service needs in the campground. Consideration is being given to whether a piped potable water and public sewerage system to the individual cottages may be a future option. The inspection was arranged for August 2, 2011.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the inspection was to provide a public health evaluation of any structural or operational conditions that may impact on the public health of the campground users or which should be considered in the future planning of services to this cabin area.
PROCEDURES
The inspection was to be a walk through of the ten washroom buildings and the one shower building with visual observations being made. Observations were to be based on accepted public health principles and any applicable regulations. The integrity of physical building conditions was only to be considered as it relation to public health aspects. The Park has responsibility to assess structural building conditions and facilities such as washroom needs as governed under the National Building Code.
In general the assessment was to focus on the structural conditions and based on the public health principles that materials in the buildings are such that they provide smooth, durable, non-absorbent, easily cleanable surfaces so as to permit easy and thorough cleaning and sanitization in order to prevent the transmission of diseases and infections.
The operational conditions were given a general assessment to determine if appropriate cleaning and sanitation procedures were in place for the facilities. A complete review of the Park’s cleaning services and procedures was not to be included.
OBSERVATIONS
Initially discussions took place with the cleaning staff working in the campground regarding the cleaning activities and procedures that take place. Further discussions took place with these staff as they were working in the various buildings. The following items were noted:
– The washrooms and shower building are given a general cleaning on a daily basis. Cleaning includes the plumbing fixtures, countertops, door and cubicle handles, shower stalls and floor areas.
– A more thorough cleaning is done of the complete building areas once per week where all wall areas are also done.
– Appropriate cleaners and disinfectants are used for cleaning and sanitizing which includes the product “Perdiem” as disinfectant cleaner with a 3% hydrogen peroxide base which is effective against such infectious organisms as Staphlococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella.
– Appropriate cleaning equipment such as brushes, spray bottles and nozzles were in use.
– Cleaning procedures are in place such as ensuring that separate cleaning equipment is designated for direct and non-direct contact surfaces to prevent cross contamination risks to facility users.
– Operational services are developed between the Park and the cottagers such as the Park not being responsible for providing soap and single service handtowels for the handbasins.
Observations in the buildings:
Appendix I provides a data summary and photos of the conditions with comments for each building. A summary of comments from the data sheets are as follows in no particular order:
– Generally the interior structural surfaces and fixtures are in good condition and are being well maintained considering the age. Cleanliness and sanitation was good.
– The unfinished wood in the shower building used to hold the shower curtains should be replaced with a more impervious and easily cleanable material.
– The lower ends of the exterior wood siding on the north side of the shower building should be repaired or replaced due to its decomposition over time from contact with the ground and moisture so insects and rodents do not begin to inhabit the building structure.
– Asbestos containing materials was noted in washroom buildings #1 and #2. It would be considered non-friable material ie not easily broken down unless drilled, sawed or otherwise damaged. It should be managed with and asbestos control program. The ceiling tiles in all the washrooms should also be considered as asbestos containing due to their age or testing shows otherwise and managed in a program.
– The unfinished concrete floor in washroom #2 should be finished to provide a more impervious and cleanable surface.
– The lower wall areas with wood panelling behind the urinals and toilets in washrooms #2 and #7 should be repaired or replace due to deterioration and the likely microbial contaminants engrained in the wood.
– The slop/sewage sink of building #2 should have a lid on it to prevent insect entry and potential disease transmission.
– Washrooms #3, #5, and #6 require repairs to small holes in the arborite wall panelling in the handicap washrooms in order to prevent any water or insect entry into the wall structure and subsequent problems.
– The sewage dump station on washrooms #3 and #10 require repair to prevent leakage around their bases.
– A plumber should check the first ladies toilet in washroom #4 as it is not flushing properly.
– The fluorescent light requires replacement of the missing light shield in washroom #4
– The wood door to the mechanical room on washroom #4 should be replaced as it’s base is now delaminating.
– Pieces of garden hose have been connected to the taps on the sewage dump stations and the length of some hoses are such that they hang inside the stations and present potential cross contamination of the potable water supply eg washrooms #4 and #5.
– Washroom #5 has the urinal leaking around the concrete base and water ponds on the floor presenting an insanitary condition as sewage was may be present.
– The concrete coving along the curbing in the ladies side of washroom #7 and the men’s side of washroom #8 is not smooth and easily cleanable.
– Washroom #8 has a lot of moss growing on the roof shingles which may result in moisture penetration through the roof causing damage and possible mold.
– In washroom #9 the metal partitions separating the urinals from the handbasins and toilet stall are rusting and require refinishing or replacement.
– Washrooms
– The majority of the washrooms had some supply of bar soap or liquid soap at the handbasins as left by cabin owners. The male side of the washrooms were lacking in soap provided at each basin.
– No evidence of mold growing in the buildings was found. This would indicate that the buildings do not have moisture problems and the walls and ceilings are being cleaned adequately.
During the inspection a number of users of the washrooms were not washing their hands either not at all, not adequately as soap was not being used and hands were only rinsed with water, and in all but one case no hand drying done as users did not bring a handtowel with them. Such practises by users and the fact that this cabin campground is only served by communal washrooms and showers increases the risk for the transmission of communicable diseases.
CONCLUSION
The conditions within the washroom and shower buildings are well maintained structurally and operationally considering the age of the buildings. This in turn would minimize the risk of communicable disease transmission when communal facilities are used. These facilities would meet accepted public health standards.
There are on-going structure and operational deficiencies which needed to be priorized and addressed. Such items would be expected in any type of public buildings particularly public washrooms and showers that have high useage and operational cleaning needs.
The risk of disease transmission would more likely be increased by users of washrooms not practising proper hygiene, example not washing their hands properly after using the facilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The items with asterisks “*” under the comment section of the data sheets and as summarized above in the OBSERVATIONS section should be considered for action.
The posting of some form of durable signage in the washroom buildings instructing users to wash their hands after using the toilet facilities would be of benefit to continuous educate people in proper hygienic practise.
REPORT AUTHOR
Brad Kelso, CPHI(C)
Brad Kelso Environmental & Occupational Health Consulting
61 Regent Crescent, Brandon MB R7B 2W7
Email: [email protected], Phone/fax 204-726-0954, cell 204-724-5813
