Mobile Toilet Sign

The signage for the 'tide toilet' at West Lake Scenic Area in Huizhou, Guangdong, has undergone a change from being adjustable to being replaced, due to safety risks and management loopholes.

The original concept of the 'tide toilet' was to use manually adjustable male and female signs, guided by staff during peak periods, to flexibly adjust the ratio of male to female toilet stalls and improve usage efficiency. The intention behind this design was good, aiming to dynamically allocate toilet resources based on actual demand and alleviate the difficulty of finding toilets during peak periods at the scenic area.

However, during actual operation, a reporter's on-site visit revealed that there was no staff on duty, and the signs could be easily adjusted. This situation exposed a management loophole, as the lack of effective supervision meant that the adjustment of the signs was no longer controlled, rendering their original function ineffective.

More seriously, the entrance to the men's toilet on the far right of the public restroom was connected to the adjustable area, and when the iron door was not closed, both sides were interconnected, posing a risk of men and women being in the same space. This not only infringed on the privacy of tourists but also raised safety concerns, resulting in a negative experience for visitors.

After identifying the issue, the scenic area acknowledged that it had not anticipated the risk of the signs being adjusted privately in advance. To address this problem, the scenic area has removed all adjustable signs and plans to replace them with fixed slot-type signs later. Fixed slot-type signs can effectively prevent the signs from being adjusted privately, ensuring a clear division of male and female toilet stalls and safeguarding the privacy and safety of tourists.

This incident also reminds us that in the design and management of public facilities, it is essential to fully consider various possible scenarios, make risk predictions, and implement countermeasures to ensure the normal operation of the facilities and a positive experience for tourists.