fast facts 

Housekeeping: 

Maintaining a Safe, Clean Workplace 

June 2010 

Office of Compliance 

advancing safety, health, and workplace rights in the legislative branch 

www.compliance.gov 

Keeping the workplace 

clean is an essential part of 

workplace safety. When the 

workplace is not maintained 

in a clean and orderly manner, hazards and unsafe 

conditions that have the 

potential to cause serious 

injury - not only to the 

employee but to others in 

the surrounding area - can 

develop. The workplace 

and nature of the work deter 

 -mine what is required to 

maintain a condition that does not cause injury to employees. 

Cluttered work places can present many dangers. For example, a 

cluttered office that is filled with paper, boxes, files, periodicals, 

newspapers or other items on the floor, blocking doors, and under 

furniture, will slow egress and could hamper or prevent occupant 

escape in the event of a fire or other emergency. An exit route 

must be at least 18 inches (45.7cm) wide for a single person or 28 

inches (71.1cm) wide for multiple persons at all points, and doors 

must be able to open to permit exit from workspaces. Items stored 

on the floor covering the route of egress will create slip or trip 

hazards. 

Excess accumulation of combustible paper and boxes can create a 

fire growth. Some sprinkler systems may not be designed to protect against such fire loading. The 

sprinkler discharge water flow 

might not be sufficient to handle 

the contents in the area, which 

could allow the fire to spread faster 

into other areas of the facility. 

Items stored within 18” of a sprinkler head, or items attached to 

sprinkler heads or pipes, as well as 

structural members of the building 

blocking sprinkler coverage, could 

interfere with the water flow once 

sprinklers are activated. Combustible items can be shielded from 

sprinkler coverage by being stored under desks or tables. 

Electrical appliances such 

as computers and power 

strips are not designed to 

be covered by stacked 

boxes, files, newspapers 

and other materials. Any 

of these items buried 

under several feet of compacted papers and boxes 

with no air circulation to 

carry off the heat could ignite 

and potentially cause a fastmoving fire fueled by excessive combustibles and shielded from control by the sprinklers. 

Another concern is the improper storage of bags, 

containers or bundles that 

are stacked in warehouses, 

shops, office storage areas 

and closets. Unstable 

stacks of heavy boxes that 

tilt and lean create the potential for collapses, possibly seriously injuring an 

employee standing nearby. 

Vertically stored items 

need to be properly stacked and secured in order to prevent them 

from sliding or collapsing. 

Other conditions can occur when 

workplaces are not maintained in 

a clean or orderly fashion or the 

workplace is not kept clean to the 

extent that the nature of the work 

allows. Areas of clutter can become a catch-all for items such as 

unsecured cylinders, old chemicals and outdated pieces of equipment. Rodents, insects and vermin 

can seek shelter in storage areas that are not kept in an orderly 

condition. The potential for this kind of infestation is more likely 

in outdoor storage. However, failure to maintain food and trash in 

a sanitary manner can also allow these types of pests to breed in 

offices. 

Example of papers covering power strips 

and appliances 

Unstable boxes that improperly store 

bags and other work related items 

An example of a cluttered workplace 

An example of an unclean and hazardous workplace An example of too much stuff in one 

work space 
fast stats 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards listed below provide general guidance for maintaining a safe and 

clean workplace. The information below can be obtained at www.osha.gov

29 CFR 1910.22 (a) 

 “All places of employment, passageways, storerooms and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary 

condition.” 

29 CFR 1910.22 (a)(2) 

 “The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.” 

29 CFR 1910.141 (a)(3)(i) 

 “All places of employment shall be kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.” 

 

This information does not constitute advice or an official ruling of the Office of Compliance or the Board of 

Directors and is intended for educational purposes only. For further information or comments concerning this 

Fast Facts, please refer to the Congressional Accountability Act (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) and the regulations 

issued by the Board, or you may contact the Office of Compliance, 202-724-9249.

The Office of Compliance advances safety, health, 

and workplace rights in the U.S. Congress and the 

Legislative Branch. Established as an independent 

agency by the Congressional Accountability Act of 

1995, the Office educates employees and employing 

offices about their rights and responsibilities under 

the Act, provides an impartial dispute resolution 

process, and investigates and remedies violations of 

the Act. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of 

Compliance: 

Room LA 200, John Adams Building 

110 Second Street, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20540 

t/ 202-724-9250 

tdd/ 202-426-1912 

f/ 202-426-1913 

Peter Ames Eveleth 

General Counsel 

Mary-Margaret Smith 

Editor 

Download the entire Fast Facts suite at http://www.compliance.gov 

Establish housekeeping requirements for your workplace by 

considering the following: 

 

 The amount of clear space for each employee to work 

 and exit 

 Set-up and placement of equipment or furniture 

 Type of work conducted in the space 

 Materials required to do the work 

 Storage considerations for work materials and waste 

collection 

 Timely disposal of trash 

 Environmental conditions in or affecting the workplace 

Things that can be done to maintain a safe, clean 

workplace: 

 Prepare and implement an effective housekeeping process, 

including scheduled inspections 

 Document housekeeping inspections and maintain a record 

retention process 

 Communicate requirements and expectations to all employees 

 Train employees in proper storage and housekeeping 

 Provide incentives for maintaining good housekeeping 

 Provide feedback to employees about the way the workplace 

is maintained 

Additional OSHA regulations that reference clean work environment requirements are listed below: 

Industry specific: 

 29 CFR 1915.91 Shipyards 

 29 CFR 1926.25 Construction 

 29 CFR 1910.272 Grain Handling 

Specific work areas: 

 29 CFR 1910.1001 Asbestos 

 29 CFR 1910.1450 Chemical Laboratories 

 29 CFR 1910.1025 Lead