1910.141(d)(2)(iv): Hand Drying at Lavatories
Employers must provide individual hand towels of cloth or paper, air blowers, or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling, convenient to the lavatories.
Key takeaways
- 1910.141(d)(2)(iv) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $10,200 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PR (7), MD (3), NY (2).
- Related part: 1910.141(d) Washing facilities (158 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iv) is one requirement inside 1910.141 Sanitation, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). 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
(iv) Individual hand towels or sections thereof, of cloth or paper, air blowers or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling, convenient to the lavatories, shall be provided. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.141.
Export the list: 17 inspections cited 1910.141(d)(2)(iv) 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 | 5 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: PR (7), MD (3), NY (2), FL (1), IN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MUNICIPIO DE ARECIBO - PROGRAMA DE RECICLAJE | ARECIBO, PR | $3,000 |
| MUNICIPIO DE ARECIBO-DIVISI?N DE TRANSPORTE Y EQUIPO | ARECIBO, PR | $3,000 |
| DTOP | PONCE, PR | $2,500 |
| SOLI HOME CENTER INC. | FAJARDO, PR | $1,700 |
| LUIS A. CORDERO ROSA DBA VAQUER?A LUIS A. CORDERO ROSA | ARECIBO, PR | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.141(d)(2)(iv), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.141(d)(2)(iv).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.141(d) Washing facilities 158 citations
- 1910.141(d)(2) Lavatories 130 citations
- 1910.141(d)(2)(ii) 71 citations
- 1910.141(d)(1) General 26 citations
- 1910.141(d)(2)(iii) 23 citations
- 1910.141(d)(2)(i) 17 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What hand drying options are allowed?
Individual hand towels or sections of cloth or paper, air blowers, or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling.
Where must hand drying be located?
Convenient to the lavatories.
Can a shared towel be used?
The rule calls for individual towels or clean individual sections of toweling.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.141 (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 2026-11-06
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.