Housekeeping requirements in construction

You must keep form and scrap lumber with protruding nails cleared from work areas, passageways, and stairs during construction, alteration, or repairs. This prevents puncture injuries and trip hazards and is required by 1926.25(a).

• Remove or lay down scrap lumber in a way that eliminates exposed nails (for example, hammer down or remove nails) or store scrap in designated containers away from traffic.
• Keep removal reasonably frequent so work areas remain clear and safe.

Debris must be cleared from work areas, passageways, and stairs in and around buildings or other structures during construction, alteration, or repairs. This is the requirement in 1926.25(a).

• "Work areas" includes spaces where employees perform tasks; "passageways" covers aisles and corridors; "stairs" includes temporary and permanent stairways.
• Clearing these areas reduces tripping, falling, and impalement risks.

Combustible scrap and debris must be removed at regular intervals during the course of construction. The standard requires routine removal but does not specify a fixed time period: 1926.25(b).

• "Regular intervals" means on a schedule that prevents accumulation and addresses fire and safety risks—daily, several times per week, or more often depending on the volume and fire potential.
• Use your hazard assessment to set the interval so combustible materials do not create ignition or egress hazards.

You must provide safe methods or equipment to get combustible scrap and debris off the job site so it can be removed regularly, as required by 1926.25(b).

• Practical examples of "safe means" include covered dumpsters, chutes, debris ramps, mechanical conveyors, and appropriate lifting equipment.
• The chosen method must prevent worker injury (for example, fall protection when loading high bins) and control fire risk while facilitating timely removal.

Yes. Employers must provide containers for the collection and separation of waste, trash, oily and used rags, and other refuse, and containers for oily, flammable, or hazardous wastes must be equipped with covers, as required by 1926.25(c).

• Keep oily rags in covered, fire-resistant containers and empty them frequently to prevent spontaneous combustion risks.
• Separate oily rags from general trash per the standard to control fire and contamination hazards.

Yes. Garbage and other waste must be disposed of at frequent and regular intervals, according to 1926.25(c).

• "Frequent and regular" is not precisely defined; employers should set a disposal schedule based on the amount and hazard of the waste (daily, multiple times per week, or as needed) to prevent health, fire, or pest hazards.
• Document procedures in your site housekeeping plan so employees know when and how waste is collected and removed.

Yes. Containers used for garbage and other oily, flammable, or hazardous wastes such as caustics, acids, and harmful dusts must be equipped with covers, as specified in 1926.25(c).

• Covers reduce splashes, vapors, fires, and accidental exposures.
• Make sure containers are compatible with the chemicals stored and labeled or segregated as appropriate.

Yes. The standard requires that containers be provided for the collection and separation of waste, trash, oily and used rags, and other refuse, per 1926.25(c).

• Segregate combustible, oily, chemical, and general trash to reduce fire, contamination, and health risks.
• Use clear labeling and color-coding where helpful so workers can deposit materials in the correct container.

No. Combustible scrap and debris must be removed at regular intervals during construction rather than allowed to accumulate until project end, under 1926.25(b).

• Accumulation increases fire and egress hazards; schedule routine removal instead of deferring until project completion.
• If temporary storage is necessary, keep materials in safe, designated containers away from work and ignition sources.

Yes. Stairs must be kept cleared of form and scrap lumber, protruding nails, and other debris during the course of construction, alteration, or repairs as stated in 1926.25(a).

• Clearing stairs maintains safe egress and reduces slip, trip, and fall hazards.
• Inspect stairways frequently and remove debris immediately when found.

No. Containers used for oily, flammable, or hazardous wastes must be equipped with covers, per 1926.25(c).

• Use lids that close securely and are compatible with the material (e.g., metal containers for flammable rags).
• Keep lids closed except when adding or removing material to limit vapor release and ignition risk.

The employer is responsible for implementing and enforcing the housekeeping requirements of 1926.25, since construction employers must comply with OSHA construction safety regulations.

• Employers should adopt site housekeeping procedures, assign responsibilities, provide containers and safe removal methods, and train workers.
• Supervisors and competent persons should monitor compliance and correct housekeeping hazards promptly.

OSHA requires sanitation facilities and, where applicable, enforcement of sanitation and waste controls; when other agencies (like the FRA) do not regulate sanitation, OSHA sanitation requirements apply. This is explained in OSHA's sanitation applicability letter: OSHA sanitation standards applicability (May 14, 2024).

• For construction-type work along tracks, employers must provide sanitation facilities in accordance with construction sanitation requirements such as 1926.51 or the general sanitation standard 29 CFR 1910.141. (See the OSHA letter cited above for when OSHA standards apply.)
• Apply housekeeping and waste separation practices (covered containers, frequent removal) consistent with 1926.25.

Yes—properly designed and used trash chutes, dumpsters, and enclosed conveyors can be acceptable "safe means" to facilitate removal of combustible debris, as required by 1926.25(b).

• Make sure chutes and dumpsters are installed and used so they do not create fall, crush, or fire hazards.
• Ensure that loading/unloading procedures, guarding, and fire precautions are in place when using these removal methods.

Yes. Containers used for harmful dusts must be provided and equipped with covers where appropriate, and waste must be collected and separated as required by 1926.25(c).

• Covered containers reduce dust release and worker exposure.
• Follow any additional rules for hazardous dust disposal (for example, respirable silica or asbestos requirements under other relevant standards) when applicable.

Oily rags should be collected in designated, covered, and appropriate containers and disposed of at frequent and regular intervals to minimize fire risk, consistent with 1926.25(c).

• Use metal or other fire-resistant containers with tight-fitting lids and empty them daily or as often as needed.
• Store containers away from ignition sources and label them so workers know their purpose.

Yes. The housekeeping requirements in 1926.25 apply during the course of construction, alteration, or repairs, which covers small residential renovation work when done by a construction employer.

• Even on small jobs, keep scrap lumber and debris off stairs and walkways, provide containers for waste and oily rags, and remove combustible scrap at regular intervals.
• Tailor frequency and container types to the scale of the project while complying with the standard.

Document your housekeeping plan, schedules for debris removal, locations and types of waste containers, and assigned responsibilities to demonstrate compliance with 1926.25.

• Include frequency for removing combustible scrap, procedures for handling oily/ hazardous wastes, container types (covered, labeled), and training records for employees.
• Keep records on site for inspectors and to help supervisors maintain consistent housekeeping practices.

You must still provide covered containers and separate collection as required by 1926.25(c), and you must follow any additional applicable regulations for hazardous waste disposal required by other agencies (for example, EPA rules).

• Store such wastes in compatible, covered containers and label them; segregate incompatible chemicals.
• Arrange disposal with qualified waste haulers and follow federal, state, and local hazardous waste rules in addition to the housekeeping rules in 1926.25.

No. Housekeeping controls like removing debris and providing proper containers are required; PPE should not be the only control for hazards created by poor housekeeping as required by 1926.25. Employers should correct housekeeping hazards first and use PPE as a supplemental measure.

• Employers must assess hazards and select appropriate controls; see OSHA guidance on hazard assessment for PPE selection in related interpretations (for example, PPE hazard assessment guidance: PPE hazard assessment requirements (March 28, 2024)).
• Good housekeeping reduces the need for PPE and lowers the chance of injuries and fires.