1910.1001(k): Asbestos Housekeeping
Employers must keep surfaces as free as practicable of asbestos waste, debris and dust and clean spills as soon as possible. Compressed air may not be used; HEPA vacuums are required, and dry sweeping or shoveling is allowed only where vacuuming or wet cleaning is not feasible. Contaminated waste goes in sealed impermeable bags or containers, sanding asbestos flooring is prohibited, and stripping must use wet methods with low abrasion pads below 300 rpm.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1001(k) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 37 times in the last 3 years, in 33 inspections, with $155,053 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (14), CT (4), MI (3).
- Related part: 1910.1001(k)(1) (23 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1001(k) ("Housekeeping") is one requirement inside 1910.1001 Asbestos, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 11 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(k) Housekeeping. 37 citations
(1) All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of ACM waste and debris and accompanying dust. Open (k)(1) 23 citations
(2) All spills and sudden releases of material containing asbestos shall be cleaned up as soon as possible. 3 citations
(3) Surfaces contaminated with asbestos may not be cleaned by the use of compressed air.
(4) Vacuuming. HEPA-filtered vacuuming equipment shall be used for vacuuming asbestos containing waste and debris. The equipment shall be used and emptied in a manner which minimizes the reentry of asbestos into the workplace. 2 citations
(5) Shoveling, dry sweeping and dry clean-up of asbestos may be used only where vacuuming and/or wet cleaning are not feasible. 1 citations
(6) Waste disposal. Waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, equipment, and clothing contaminated with asbestos consigned for disposal, shall be collected, recycled and disposed of in sealed impermeable bags, or other closed, impermeable containers. Open (k)(6) 3 citations
(7) Care of asbestos-containing flooring material. Open (k)(7) 1 citations
(i) Sanding of asbestos-containing floor material is prohibited.
(ii) Stripping of finishes shall be conducted using low abrasion pads at speeds lower than 300 rpm and wet methods.
(iii) Burnishing or dry buffing may be performed only on asbestos-containing flooring which has sufficient finish so that the pad cannot contact the asbestos-containing material. 1 citations
(8) Waste and debris and accompanying dust in an area containing accessible ACM and/or PACM or visibly deteriorated ACM, shall not be dusted or swept dry, or vacuumed without using a HEPA filter. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1001.
Export the list: 33 inspections cited 1910.1001(k) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: NJ (14), CT (4), MI (3), VA (3), NY (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT | NEWARK, NJ | $35,000 |
| DAIKIN APPLIED AMERICAS INC. | VERONA, VA | $14,660 |
| PRESBYTERIAN ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER | DENVER, CO | $9,507 |
| CITY OF NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT | NEWARK, NJ | $7,000 |
| CITY OF NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT | NEWARK, NJ | $7,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1001(k), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1001(k).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1001(k)(1) 23 citations
- 1910.1001(k)(6) Waste disposal 3 citations
- 1910.1001(k)(7) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Can compressed air be used to clean asbestos dust?
No. Surfaces contaminated with asbestos may not be cleaned by the use of compressed air.
When is dry sweeping allowed?
Only where vacuuming and/or wet cleaning are not feasible.
How must asbestos waste be disposed of?
Collected and disposed of in sealed impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1001 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-05
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.