1910.106(e)(9)(iii): Combustible Waste Control
Employers must keep combustible waste and residues in a building or operating area to a minimum, store them in covered metal receptacles and dispose of them daily.
Key takeaways
- 1910.106(e)(9)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 113 times in the last 3 years, in 113 inspections, with $258,113 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MN (23), VA (17), TN (12).
- Related part: 1910.106(e) Industrial plants (599 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iii) ("Waste and residue") is one requirement inside 1910.106 Flammable liquids, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). 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
(iii) Waste and residue. Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area shall be kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily. 113 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.106.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 38 |
Top states: MN (23), VA (17), TN (12), MD (9), NC (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $134,150 |
| MULLEN'S MARKINGS, INC. | ROANOKE, VA | $11,400 |
| J. MULLEN & SONS, INC. | SAUGERTIES, NY | $10,938 |
| PREMIUM VELOCITY AUTO, LLC. | DES MOINES, IA | $7,448 |
| TOP GUN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CENTER L.L.C. | RENO, NV | $6,620 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.106(e)(9)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.106(e) Industrial plants 599 citations
- 1910.106(e)(6) Sources of ignition 250 citations
- 1910.106(e)(2) Incidental storage or use of flammable liquids 207 citations
- 1910.106(e)(6)(ii) Grounding 175 citations
- 1910.106(e)(9) Housekeeping 125 citations
- 1910.106(e)(2)(ii) Containers 109 citations
- 1910.106(e)(2)(iv) Handling liquids at point of final use 91 citations
- 1910.106(e)(6)(i) General 72 citations
- 1910.106(e)(3) Unit physical operations 7 citations
- 1910.106(e)(2)(iii) Separation and protection 6 citations
- 1910.106(e)(7)(i) Equipment 5 citations
- 1910.106(e)(7) Electrical 5 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How must combustible waste be stored?
In covered metal receptacles.
How often must it be disposed of?
Daily.
How much waste may be kept in the work area?
It must be kept to a minimum.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.106 (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 2026-10-20
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.