RAS recommends mandatory rating scheme for loos

CityMains SG

SINGAPORE: The Restroom Association (Singapore) has recommended that all public toilets should have a mandatory rating scheme.

The move came after a survey commissioned by the association found that eight in 10 respondents agree with the move.

The survey was conducted in December last year by Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Business and Accountancy students.

Currently, toilets are graded using a voluntary system called the Happy Toilet Programme.

One third of survey respondents want continued government intervention and enforcement, although four in 10 felt that users should be responsible for clean toilets.

However, only 18.2 per cent would consider reminding others who dirty the toilets. Even fewer - 15.2 per cent - are willing to inform errant owners or cleaners to clean up dirty loos.

The survey also found that coffeeshop and hawker centre toilets are the dirtiest, followed by those at bus interchanges, parks and MRT stations.

Male toilets were also found to be dirtier than female ones.

The survey also looked at what users wanted in terms of toilet design.

Nearly half - 43.6 per cent - said cubicle space was too tight.

Respondents also asked for better positioning of wash basins, soap dispensers, hand dryers and litter bins. For example, placing litter bins nearer to urinals might solve the problem of littering in urinals.

Apart from recommending a mandatory rating scheme, the Restroom Association said it will also work with the government and toilet owners to look at better toilet design guidelines, and specialised training of restroom attendants.

It also wants to work with the Public Hygiene Council, the Singapore Kindness Movement and the Keep Singapore Beautiful Movement on more effective public awareness and engagement.

Tan Puay Hoon, the president of the Restroom Association (Singapore), said it also wants to have stronger messages in public education campaigns.

Tan said: "To highlight that a dirty toilet, it can be a life-threatening issue which a lot of us have never thought about. For example, if the floor is wet and you step on it and you slip and you fall, once you hit your head, it can be a life-threatening problem.

"Another example is, (for) the one handling food, if they go to a dirty toilet and they don't have the facilities and amenities to wash their hands, when they come back to prepare the food, (they may contaminate the food) - this can be another life-threatening issue."

- CNA/ck

DailyFreeGames.com SG

president of the Restroom Association (Singapore) sounds like a cool position in an equally awesome company... where you work... oh... I am the Chief President of the Restroom Association of Singapore.

CityMains SG

THE call by the Restroom Association Singapore for a mandatory cleanliness rating system for public toilets (''Institute rating system for loos''; last Thursday) seems to impose the onus of maintaining clean restrooms on the owners and operators of these facilities.

Foodstalls are currently graded by the National Environment Agency on hygiene standards, but it would be unfair to implement the same for restrooms.

Foodstall operators have full control over the hygiene standards of their stalls, but maintaining the cleanliness of restrooms is a shared responsibility of both users and operators.

The state of a toilet very much depends on its users. Soiled paper strewn over toilet floors is a common sight, and arises from the inconsiderate behaviour of users.

It is costly and unfair to force owners to hire cleaners to stand by their toilets and clean the mess created by irresponsible users.

The provision of restrooms is a value-added service for patrons, who choose to dine at a particular eating place not just because its toilets are cleaner.

Restroom operators are also not ready for a mandatory rating system as there are few comprehensive training programmes to help them meet the required standards.

Furthermore, an audit system requires constant spot checks by the relevant bodies, and these are costly.

A better solution is to encourage restroom users to be socially responsible through education and raising public awareness.

Provide call buttons for users to alert cleaners to restrooms that need cleaning after a mess has been created. A tip box could even be placed at the side of the call button.

At the same time, offer cash incentives to operators who maintain clean restrooms.

Everyone has a part to play if we yearn for cleaner toilets in Singapore.

Lim Ying Hi

(ST Forum - 19/3/2012)

CityMains SG

THE bid by the Restroom Association Singapore to improve the state of public toilets is encouraging (''Institute rating system for loos''; last Thursday).

Restrooms are communal spaces and common etiquette dictates that we should keep them clean. We are put off by smelly and dirty restrooms, and the onus of keeping them clean should be on users, and not entirely on the cleaners.

Here are some things users can do:

- Do not waste toilet paper and hand soap.

- Stand close to the toilet bowl or urinal to avoid dirtying the floor.

- Sit on the toilet seat if you are unsteady on your feet.

- Sanitary napkins should not be flushed down the toilet; wrap them up and put them in the pad disposal bin.

- Squat only on squatting toilets; pedestal toilets are only for sitting on.

- Don't dirty the toilet seat, and if you do, clean it properly.

- Flush when you are done, and lock the cubicle door so as not to embarrass others.

- Do not peek under the doors if the cubicle appears to be occupied.

- Wash your hands thoroughly after you are done, and do not litter in the restroom.

The cliche that it takes two hands to clap applies to restroom etiquette as well. If we observe good toilet practices, it will make the work of the cleaners less onerous, and restrooms more pleasant.

Kok Mei Hui (Ms)

(ST Forum - 19/3/2012)

the Bear SG

the coffee shop ones will all fail dismally...

if like the makan shop one, A B C D type, i wonder if they fail until Z triple minus or worse who is going to enforce anything on them...

CityMains SG

THE problem of dirty toilets in coffee shops will remain unresolved if we continue to point fingers (''Institute rating system for loos''; March 15).

There is no way to catch a user messing up the toilet, especially if he is locked inside the cubicle. So a sustained public education effort is the only way to reach out to such people.

Ultimately, and unfortunately, the responsibility lies with restroom owners and operators.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has a crucial role and should set and make known the hygiene standards it expects in coffee shops, and enforce them rigorously islandwide.

If the cost of toilet maintenance goes up, as a result of higher hygiene standards required, so be it.

Restroom owners and operators can either charge an appropriate usage fee, or include it in their product and service charges.

To create a level playing field, no coffee shop should be allowed to get away with dirty toilets.

Otherwise, owners and operators of such toilets may deliberately save on maintenance, and price their products and services lower than those of their competitors. This would disadvantage those who put in much effort and money in toilet maintenance.

With the NEA's stringent enforcement for higher standards of cleanliness, competent cleaning companies will have a viable option to provide quality service to coffee shops. This is currently lacking because coffee-shop operators do not know the standards required of them.

Koh Geok Beng

(ST Forum - 24th March 2012)

CityMains SG

I FULLY agree that operators who charge the public for using restrooms must keep them clean at all times (''Institute rating system for loos''; March 15).

Many public restrooms are not well maintained. I do not mind paying more for a clean restroom, but not for the ones at People's Park Complex, where patrons are charged 20 cents to use toilets that are poorly maintained.

Poorly kept restrooms must be upgraded. Once a restroom is upgraded, keeping it clean is easier.

Nancy Lee (Ms)

(ST Forum - 24th March 2012)

charlize SG

Some toilets damn scary.

charlize SG

I think soon toilet cleaning will go to the way of being outsourced to outside vendors.

Just like plate collecting in kopitiams.

FireIce SG

no good to loon if u want to "walk around" to find a nicer toilet

charlize SG

In Sg, everything also want certification.

Haiz.