ETF reiterates: Every transport worker deserves regular access to clean, safe facilities
Public transport unions in the United Kingdom are raising urgent concerns about the lack of access to toilet facilities for bus and train drivers, a problem that has persisted for years but is now reaching a breaking point. Reports from across the UK show drivers being forced to work entire shifts without guaranteed access to a toilet, leaving them to rely on improvised or unsafe alternatives, including urinating in bottles in their driving cab. Some unions are now considering industrial action to force employers and authorities to act.
For the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), this is not a new issue. ETF has long called for regular access to clean, safe toilet facilities for all transport workers, regardless of the company they work for or the nature of their route. The situation in the UK is a stark reminder that too many employers still treat basic human needs as optional.
A preventable health risk made worse by Europe’s heatwaves
The lack of toilet access is not merely an inconvenience. It is a serious occupational health risk. Drivers who cannot take regular comfort breaks face increased likelihood of urinary tract infections, kidney problems, dehydration, and long‑term bladder issues. These risks are well documented and widely recognised by occupational health experts.
This summer’s extreme heatwaves across Europe make the situation even more dangerous. High temperatures increase dehydration, which in turn heightens the medical risks associated with restricted toilet access and has a negative impact on driver’s alertness. For drivers working long shifts in enclosed cabins, often without adequate ventilation, the combination of heat stress and limited access to facilities is unacceptable.
An ASLEF report found that 81.82% of drivers surveyed said they deliberately drink less water and skip eating to avoid having to go to the toilet. The lack of access to suitable facilities thus pushes drivers to limit their intake of water at a time when hydration is essential for limiting heat stress and staying alert.
Dehydration is not just dangerous for drivers. Research from the University of Loughborough demonstrates that driving while dehydrated is just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
A systemic failure
The problem is rooted in fragmented responsibility. In many workplaces, drivers rely on facilities owned by third parties such as cafés, petrol stations, or other operators, with no guarantee that they will be open, accessible, or safe. In rail, turnaround times, fragmentation of operators and station staffing cuts mean drivers often have no time or no place to take a break. In urban public transport, toilets often simply do not exist at the end of lines, leaving bus drivers with no access to adequate facilities.
ETF’s position is clear: Access to toilets is a basic right, not a privilege. It must be guaranteed by employers and enforced by regulators.
ETF calls for immediate action
ETF urges authorities, transport operators, and regulators across Europe to work with unions to deliver:
- Guaranteed access to clean, safe toilet facilities at depots, stations, and key points along routes.
- Adequate break times built into schedules, ensuring drivers can use facilities.
- Heatwave‑specific protections, including hydration policies and emergency access arrangements.
- Clear legal obligations for all operators, including subcontractors, to provide facilities for their workforce.
A European problem requiring European standards
While the current alarm is being raised in the UK, similar issues affect bus, tram, metro, and rail workers across Europe. ETF continues to push for EU‑level recognition that access to sanitary facilities is a fundamental workplace requirement. The ongoing heatwaves show that this is not only a matter of dignity, it is a matter of health and safety.
ETF stands with UK unions and all transport workers demanding the most basic of rights: the ability to work without putting their health at risk.
