1910.107(g): Spray Finishing Operations and Maintenance
Employers must keep spraying inside predetermined spraying areas and keep those areas as free of combustible residue as practical, cleaning daily if needed with nonsparking tools. Residue must be removed and disposed of right away, soaked rags go in approved metal waste cans emptied at least daily or at shift end, clothing is not left overnight unless in metal lockers, cleaning solvents are limited by flashpoint, and incompatible coatings are not mixed in one booth.
Key takeaways
- 1910.107(g) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 248 times in the last 3 years, in 206 inspections, with $245,687 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (34), MI (30), MD (22).
- Related part: 1910.107(g)(2) Cleaning (142 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.107(g) ("Operations and maintenance") is one requirement inside 1910.107 Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 7 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
(g) Operations and maintenance — 248 citations
(1) Spraying. Spraying shall not be conducted outside of predetermined spraying areas. Open (g)(1) 10 citations
(2) Cleaning. All spraying areas shall be kept as free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues as practical, with cleaning conducted daily if necessary. Scrapers, spuds, or other such tools used for cleaning purposes shall be of nonsparking material. Open (g)(2) 142 citations
(3) Residue disposal. Residue scrapings and debris contaminated with residue shall be immediately removed from the premises and properly disposed of. Approved metal waste cans shall be provided wherever rags or waste are impregnated with finishing material and all such rags or waste deposited therein immediately after use. The contents of waste cans shall be properly disposed of at least once daily or at the end of each shift. Open (g)(3) 34 citations
(4) Clothing storage. Spray finishing employees' clothing shall not be left on the premises overnight unless kept in metal lockers. 1 citations
(5) Cleaning solvents. The use of solvents for cleaning operations shall be restricted to those having flashpoints not less than 100 °F.; however, for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment, solvents having flashpoints not less than those normally used in spray operations may be used. Such cleaning shall be conducted inside spray booths and ventilating equipment operated during cleaning. Open (g)(5) 5 citations
(6) Hazardous materials combinations. Spray booths shall not be alternately used for different types of coating materials, where the combination of the materials may be conducive to spontaneous ignition, unless all deposits of the first used material are removed from the booth and exhaust ducts prior to spraying with the second used material. 1 citations
(7) “No Smoking” signs. “No smoking” signs in large letters on contrasting color background shall be conspicuously posted at all spraying areas and paint storage rooms. Open (g)(7) 55 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.107.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 89 |
| 2025 | 73 |
| 2026 | 71 |
Top states: TN (34), MI (30), MD (22), VA (13), MN (12)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| VTCU, CORP. | POCATELLO, ID | $16,550 |
| JV MANUFACTURING, INC. | SPRINGDALE, AR | $9,675 |
| PROCESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. | TULSA, OK | $9,100 |
| THE AMERICAN TANK & FABRICATING COMPANY | CLEVELAND, OH | $8,900 |
| DEXTER AXLE CO. LLC | EL RENO, OK | $8,500 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.107(g), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.107(g)(2) Cleaning 142 citations
- 1910.107(g)(7) “No Smoking” signs 55 citations
- 1910.107(g)(3) Residue disposal 34 citations
- 1910.107(g)(1) Spraying 10 citations
- 1910.107(g)(5) Cleaning solvents 5 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Where can spray finishing be done?
Spraying shall not be conducted outside of predetermined spraying areas.
How often must waste cans with soaked rags be emptied?
The contents must be properly disposed of at least once daily or at the end of each shift.
What tools can be used to scrape spray residue?
Scrapers, spuds or other cleaning tools must be of nonsparking material.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.107 (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.