1910.106(e)(9): Housekeeping for Flammable Liquids
Employers must follow procedures that control leakage and prevent accidental escape of flammable liquids, and clean up spills promptly. Aisles must allow unobstructed movement and fire equipment access, combustible waste must be kept to a minimum in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily, and ground around buildings and operating areas must be kept free of weeds, trash and unnecessary combustibles.
Key takeaways
- 1910.106(e)(9) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 125 times in the last 3 years, in 125 inspections, with $272,752 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MN (23), VA (18), TN (14).
- 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) ("Housekeeping") is one requirement inside 1910.106 Flammable liquids, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 4 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
(9) Housekeeping — 125 citations
(i) General. Maintenance and operating practices shall be in accordance with established procedures which will tend to control leakage and prevent the accidental escape of flammable liquids. Spills shall be cleaned up promptly. 6 citations
(ii) Access. Adequate aisles shall be maintained for unobstructed movement of personnel and so that fire protection equipment can be brought to bear on any part of flammable liquid storage, use, or any unit physical operation. 1 citations
(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. Open (e)(9)(iii) 113 citations
(iv) Clear zone. Ground area around buildings and unit operating areas shall be kept free of weeds, trash, or other unnecessary combustible materials. 5 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 | 32 |
| 2025 | 42 |
| 2026 | 41 |
Top states: MN (23), VA (18), TN (14), 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), 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)(iii) Waste and residue 113 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
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Frequently asked questions
How quickly must flammable liquid spills be cleaned up?
Spills must be cleaned up promptly.
How must combustible waste be stored?
Kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily.
Why must aisles stay clear?
For unobstructed movement of personnel and so fire protection equipment can reach any part of the flammable liquid area.
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.