1910.22: Walking-Working Surfaces General Requirements
Employers must keep workplaces, passageways and walking-working surfaces clean, orderly and sanitary, and keep floors as dry as possible. Surfaces must be free of hazards like spills, loose boards, protruding objects, snow and ice, must hold their intended load, and must be inspected regularly. Hazards must be fixed or guarded before anyone uses the surface again.
Key takeaways
- 1910.22 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 3,603 times in the last 3 years, in 3,176 inspections, with $10,857,844 in current penalties.
- 32 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PR (426), NY (245), MI (208).
- Most-cited part: 1910.22(a) Surface conditions (2,671 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.22, "General requirements", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). It has 10 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1910.22 (10 paragraphs)
(a) Surface conditions. The employer must ensure: Open (a) 2,671 citations
(1) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition. Open (a)(1) 1,252 citations
(2) The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition. When wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats must be provided. Open (a)(2) 477 citations
(3) Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice. Open (a)(3) 942 citations
(b) Loads. The employer must ensure that each walking-working surface can support the maximum intended load for that surface. Open (b) 115 citations
(c) Access and egress. The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces. Open (c) 228 citations
(d) Inspection, maintenance, and repair. The employer must ensure: Open (d) 588 citations
(1) Walking-working surfaces are inspected, regularly and as necessary, and maintained in a safe condition; Open (d)(1) 395 citations
(2) Hazardous conditions on walking-working surfaces are corrected or repaired before an employee uses the walking-working surface again. If the correction or repair cannot be made immediately, the hazard must be guarded to prevent employees from using the walking-working surface until the hazard is corrected or repaired; and Open (d)(2) 181 citations
(3) When any correction or repair involves the structural integrity of the walking-working surface, a qualified person performs or supervises the correction or repair. 8 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 3,176 inspections cited 1910.22 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
32 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.22.
At 1:50 p.m. on February 4, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a parts inventory clerk for an automobile dealership and was moving two 30-pound cylinders of freon up eight steps to a mezzanine. He made three trips up the stairs reported feeling dizzy and…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 176 |
| 2024 | 1,350 |
| 2025 | 1,197 |
| 2026 | 880 |
Top states: PR (426), NY (245), MI (208), VA (207), NJ (187)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| STX BEEF COMPANY, LLC | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX | $176,154 |
| HORIZON BIOFUELS INC | FREMONT, NE | $107,584 |
| DOLGENCORP OF TEXAS, INC. | GARLAND, TX | $93,436 |
| DOLLAR GENERAL #22557 | SUNAPEE, NH | $93,436 |
| DOLLAR GENERAL #13857 | NEWPORT, NH | $93,436 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.22.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.22(a) Surface conditions 2,671 citations
- 1910.22(a)(1) 1,252 citations
- 1910.22(a)(3) 942 citations
- 1910.22(d) Inspection, maintenance, and repair 588 citations
- 1910.22(a)(2) 477 citations
- 1910.22(d)(1) 395 citations
- 1910.22(c) Access and egress 228 citations
- 1910.22(d)(2) 181 citations
- 1910.22(b) Loads 115 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What hazards must be kept off walking surfaces?
Hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow and ice.
What if a hazard cannot be fixed right away?
The hazard must be guarded to keep employees from using the walking-working surface until it is corrected or repaired.
Who must handle repairs to structural problems?
When a repair involves the structural integrity of the surface, a qualified person must perform or supervise it.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.22 (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.