Sanitation requirements overview

Floors must be kept as clean and dry as the nature of the work allows, and where wet processes are used you must provide drainage and dry standing places or waterproof footwear.

• Keep every workroom floor clean to the extent the work allows and maintain floors in a dry condition as far as practicable (1910.141(a)(3)).
• If wet processes make floors wet, provide drainage and, where practicable, false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places, or provide appropriate waterproof footgear (1910.141(a)(3)).
• Remove protruding nails, splinters, loose boards, and unnecessary holes to facilitate cleaning (1910.141(a)(3)(iii)).

Waste receptacles for putrescible solids or liquids must not leak, must be cleanable and sanitary, and should have a solid tight-fitting cover unless they can be kept sanitary without one.

• Receptacles must be constructed so they do not leak and may be thoroughly cleaned and maintained in a sanitary condition (1910.141(a)(4)(i)).
• Equip receptacles with a solid tight-fitting cover unless the receptacle design permits sanitary maintenance without a cover (1910.141(a)(4)(i)).
• Remove sweepings, wastes and garbage often enough to avoid a health menace and to maintain sanitation (1910.141(a)(4)(ii)).

Employers must provide potable water for drinking and related personal and food uses, and they must not use open containers (barrels, pails, tanks) from which water is dipped or poured as drinking water sources.

• Potable water must be provided for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods and utensils, and in personal service rooms (1910.141(b)(1)(i)).
• Open containers such as barrels, pails, or tanks from which water must be dipped or poured (whether or not covered) are prohibited for drinking water (1910.141(b)(1)(v)).
• Portable drinking water dispensers must be closable, sanitary, and equipped with a tap (1910.141(b)(1)(iii)).
• Common drinking cups are prohibited (1910.141(b)(1)(vi)).

Nonpotable water may be used for cleaning work premises (except food areas and personal service rooms) only if it won't create insanitary conditions, and outlets must be clearly marked while systems must prevent backflow into potable systems.

• Nonpotable water outlets must be posted or marked to show the water is unsafe for drinking, washing of the person or utensils, cooking, or clothing washing (1910.141(b)(2)(i)).
• Construction of nonpotable systems must prevent backflow or backsiphonage into potable water systems (1910.141(b)(2)(ii)).
• Nonpotable water shall not be used for washing any portion of the person, cooking or eating utensils, or clothing (1910.141(b)(2)(iii)).
• Also, nonpotable water may be used for cleaning premises other than food processing and personal service rooms provided it does not contain harmful concentrations (1910.141(c)).

For 40 employees of one sex you must provide three water closets according to the table.

• Table J-1 in 1910.141(c)(1)(i) specifies 36 to 55 employees require 3 water closets.
• If urinals are used and the facilities will not be used by women, urinals may substitute but the number of water closets cannot be reduced below two-thirds of the minimum specified (see footnote in Table J-1) (1910.141(c)(1)(i)).

No; mobile crews and normally unattended locations do not have to provide on-site toilet rooms so long as employees have transportation immediately available to nearby compliant toilet facilities.

• The exception applies when employees can get to nearby toilet facilities immediately that meet the standard's other requirements (1910.141(c)(1)(ii)).
• This same concept is reflected elsewhere for washing facilities and lavatories when mobile crews have transportation to nearby facilities (1910.141(d)).

Each water closet must occupy a separate compartment with a door and walls or partitions high enough to assure privacy.

• Provide a separate compartment for each water closet with a door and partitions/walls sufficiently high for privacy (1910.141(c)(2)(i)).
• Single-occupancy lockable toilet rooms with at least one water closet can substitute for separate sex facilities when they meet the locking and occupancy conditions described in 1910.141(c)(1)(i).

Employers must provide lavatories with hot and cold or tepid running water, hand soap or similar cleansing agents, and individual or clean cloth/paper towels or air blowers.

• Each lavatory shall have hot and cold running water, or tepid running water (1910.141(d)(2)(ii)).
• Hand soap or similar cleansing agents must be provided (1910.141(d)(2)(iii)).
• Provide individual hand towels, sections of continuous cloth toweling, or air blowers convenient to lavatories (1910.141(d)(2)(iv)).
• Note the lavatory exception for mobile crews if transportation to nearby facilities is readily available (1910.141(d)).

Showers are required only when another standard mandates them, and when required you must provide one shower per 10 employees of each sex, soap, and hot and cold water feeding a common discharge line.

• Provide showers when required by a particular standard; follow the shower-specific rules in 1910.141(d)(3).
• One shower is required for each 10 employees (per sex) who must shower during the same shift (1910.141(d)(3)(ii)).
• Provide body soap or other cleansing agents (1910.141(d)(3)(iii)).
• Showers must have hot and cold water feeding a common discharge line (1910.141(d)(3)(iv)).

Change rooms are required whenever another standard requires employees to wear protective clothing because of possible contamination with toxic materials, and they must include separate storage for street clothes and for the protective clothing.

• Provide change rooms equipped with storage for street clothes and separate storage for protective clothing when protective clothing is required due to possible contamination with toxic materials (1910.141(e)).
• The provision applies only when a particular standard requires protective clothing for contamination risks (the change rooms support hygiene and contamination control).

If the employer provides working clothes that become wet or are laundered between shifts, the employer must ensure those clothes are dry before employees reuse them.

• Provide means to make employer-supplied work clothes dry before reuse if they become wet on the job or are washed between shifts (1910.141(f)).
• This prevents hazards associated with wearing damp clothing and supports worker comfort and hygiene.

Employees may eat on the premises only in areas not exposed to toxic materials and never in toilet rooms, and employers must provide suitable food-waste receptacles that are emptied at least daily when in use.

• No employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room or any area exposed to a toxic material (1910.141(g)(2)).
• Provide receptacles made of smooth, corrosion-resistant, easily cleanable, or disposable materials for food waste (1910.141(g)(3)).
• Receptacles shall be emptied not less frequently than once each working day unless unused and be maintained clean and sanitary; provide covers unless sanitary conditions can be maintained without them (1910.141(g)(3)-(4)).
• No food or beverages shall be stored in toilet rooms or areas exposed to toxic materials (1910.141(g)(4)).

All employer-provided employee food service facilities and operations must follow sound hygienic principles and ensure food is wholesome, protected from contamination, and properly processed, prepared, handled, and stored.

• Employee food service must be carried out in accordance with sound hygienic principles (1910.141(h)).
• Food dispensed must be wholesome, free from spoilage, and protected against contamination during processing, preparation, handling and storage (1910.141(h)).

Garbage, refuse, and wastes must be removed as often as necessary to avoid creating a health menace and to maintain sanitation—typically at least daily when used.

• Remove all sweepings, solid or liquid wastes, refuse, and garbage frequently enough to avoid creating a menace to health and to keep the workplace sanitary (1910.141(a)(4)(ii)).
• For food-waste receptacles specifically, the standard requires emptying not less frequently than once each working day unless unused (1910.141(g)(3)-(4)).

No; common drinking cups and other common utensils are prohibited.

• Employers must prohibit common drinking cups and other shared utensils to maintain sanitary drinking conditions (1910.141(b)(1)(vi)).
• Use individual disposable cups, personal reusable cups that employees supply and keep clean, or sanitary dispensers with taps as required by 1910.141(b)(1)(iii).

Employers must construct, equip, and maintain enclosed workplaces to prevent the entrance or harborage of vermin and institute a continuing, effective extermination program where vermin are detected.

• Keep enclosed workplaces so far as reasonably practicable to prevent entrance or harborage of rodents, insects, and other vermin (1910.141(a)(5)).
• Start and maintain a continuing and effective extermination program where vermin presence is detected (1910.141(a)(5)).

Employers must keep floors, working places, and passageways free from protruding nails, splinters, loose boards, and unnecessary holes and openings to make cleaning possible.

• Remove or repair protruding nails, splinters, loose boards, and unnecessary holes and openings to facilitate cleaning and prevent hazards (1910.141(a)(3)(iii)).

Nonpotable systems must be constructed so that backflow or backsiphonage into potable water systems cannot occur.

• Design and install nonpotable water systems and any systems carrying nonpotable substances to prevent backflow or backsiphonage into potable systems (1910.141(b)(2)(ii)).
• Use approved backflow prevention devices or physical separation consistent with local plumbing codes and 1910.141(b)(2)(ii).

Yes; single-occupancy toilet rooms that lock from the inside, contain at least one water closet, and are occupied by one person at a time can be used so separate-sex rooms are not required.

• Where toilet rooms will be occupied by no more than one person at a time, can be locked from inside, and contain at least one water closet, separate rooms for each sex need not be provided (1910.141(c)(1)(i)).
• If such single-occupancy rooms contain more than one toilet facility, only one counts toward Table J-1 totals (1910.141(c)(1)(i)).

Washing facilities must be maintained in a sanitary condition.

• Keep all washing facilities clean and sanitary for employee use (1910.141(d)(1)).
• This includes lavatories, showers (when required), towels/air dryers, soap, and related fixtures (1910.141(d)(2)-(3)).

Portable drinking water dispensers must be designed, constructed, and serviced to maintain sanitary conditions, be capable of being closed, and be equipped with a tap.

• Ensure portable dispensers can be closed, have a tap, and are maintained in sanitary condition through proper cleaning and servicing (1910.141(b)(1)(iii)).

Food-waste receptacles must be made of smooth, corrosion-resistant, easily cleanable, or disposable materials and be sized and located to encourage use and prevent overfilling.

• Use receptacles constructed of smooth, corrosion-resistant, easily cleanable, or disposable materials for disposal of waste food (1910.141(g)(3)).
• Place an adequate number and size of receptacles where they encourage use and prevent overfilling; empty them at least daily when used (1910.141(g)(3)-(4)).

No; nonpotable water shall not be used for washing any portion of the person or for washing clothing, cooking or eating utensils.

• Nonpotable water is not permitted for washing the person, clothing, cooking or eating utensils (1910.141(b)(2)(iii)).
• Use potable water for those purposes to protect health and sanitation (1910.141(b)(1)(i)).

Employers must provide individual clean towels to employees who use showers.

• Ensure each employee who uses the showers is provided with an individual clean towel (1910.141(d)(3)(v)).
• This is in addition to providing body soap or other cleansing agents as required (1910.141(d)(3)(iii)).

The sewage disposal method used by the workplace must not endanger the health of employees.

• Select and maintain a sewage disposal method that does not pose a health hazard to employees (1910.141(c)(1)(iii)).
• Coordinate with local authorities and follow applicable public health and plumbing codes to ensure compliance (1910.141(c)(1)(iii)).

Potable water is water that meets State or local drinking-water standards or the EPA's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

• Potable water must meet the standards for drinking purposes of the State or local authority having jurisdiction, or the quality standards prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR 141) (1910.141(a)(2)).
• Employers should confirm water quality with the relevant local or state authority or with EPA standards when needed.