Inside the GROSS conditions female tradies are forced to endure at work including vile toilets, cruel graffiti and bottles filled with urine
Shocking photos have been revealed showing the horrific conditions female tradies are being forced to endure while working on construction sites.
Female tradies are often having to leave their worksites completely just to go to the bathroom, and the union is calling for new laws to improve their working conditions.
Some even reported regularly finding bottles of urine or soaking wet rags on toilet floors at trade sites.
The Electrical Trades Union has released a raft of recommendations including new laws surrounding toilets, hoping to stop women being excluded from worksites and create a safer environment.
Female tradies are often having to leave their worksites to go to the bathroom, or are faced with grim conditions like the toilet pictured
Another unnamed female electrician said that after four years in the industry she had never seen a female specific bathroom (pictured, a Sydney tradie)
Experienced tradie, Sarah Brunton said working in the male dominated industry means women's toilets are usually not a priority on Darwin worksites.
'It depends where you're working. Even on major projects that are supposedly world class I've seen situations there where male facilities have been provided and the female facilities have been overlooked,' Ms Brunton said.
Another female tradie recounted horrific scenes on a site in Victoria, with no toilets available.
'You would find bottles of piss and rags of pee throughout the turbines while they were being built. Everyone knew – and everyone knew not to touch any rags or mysterious bags left in the turbines,' she said.
Another unnamed female electrician said that after four years in the industry she had never seen a female specific bathroom.
'The first thing I would do when arriving on site is try and find a toilet and make sure it is not down a dark alley or in a position where the girls would not be safe,' she said.
Experienced tradie, Sarah Brunton said that working in the male dominated industry means women's toilets are usually not a priority on Darwin worksites
Of the more than 60,000 electrical tradespeople who are members with the ETU, less than 2 per cent are female.
As well as workplace amenities for women, and ensuring toilets are clean, the 'Nowhere To Go' report outlines more recommendations.
They include ensuring woman are in workplace committees involved in decision making, as well as improving education and compliance within the male dominated industry.
The report also suggest establishing a singular point of contact for all employees to report gendered safety issues and implementing female apprentice meetings and mentorship programs.
ETU National Secretary Allen Hicks said that toilets for women should be a 'minimum requirement of every workplace'.
'Ensuring workplace amenities and in particular, workplace toilets, are available and suitable should be a minimum requirement of every workplace but this is often not the case,' Mr Hicks said in a statement.
Of the more than 60,000 electrical tradespeople who are members with the ETU, less than 2 per cent are female (pictured, graffiti on one rare women's toilet at a worksite)
'For women in historically male dominated occupations, the challenge is particularly stark, with women's amenities frequently treated as an inconvenience, improperly or irregularly serviced or not provided at all.
'This has forced women to take drastic action, risking their own health, safety and hygiene through practices like drinking less water or deliberately delaying their menstrual cycles.'
Mr Hicks also said that he believed increasing women in the trades will boost the overall workforce.
'Instead of relying on overseas workers, we should be boosting the workforce participation of women, who make up 50 per cent of our population,' Mr Hicks said.
'Research has shown time and time again that one way for us to increase participation is to provide amenities and make sure women aren't left with nowhere to go.'