1926.1101(g)(8)(i): Safe Removal of Asbestos Vinyl and Asphalt Flooring
When removing vinyl or asphalt flooring that contains asbestos, or that is in a building built no later than 1980 where asbestos has not been ruled out, employers must make sure trained workers never sand flooring, clean with HEPA vacuums with a metal floor tool, cut sheeting wet instead of ripping it up, scrape adhesive wet, never dry sweep, and remove tiles intact when possible. Mechanical chipping is allowed only inside a negative pressure enclosure.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(g)(8)(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 28 times in the last 3 years, in 20 inspections, with $37,596 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (7), CO (4), NC (3).
- Related part: 1926.1101(g) Methods of compliance (297 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8)(i) is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 9 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
(i) For removing vinyl and asphalt flooring materials which contain ACM or for which in buildings constructed no later than 1980, the employer has not verified the absence of ACM pursuant to paragraph (g)(8)(i)(I) of this section. The employer shall ensure that employees comply with the following work practices and that employees are trained in these practices pursuant to paragraph (k)(9): 28 citations
(A) Flooring or its backing shall not be sanded. 1 citations
(B) Vacuums equipped with HEPA filter, disposable dust bag, and metal floor tool (no brush) shall be used to clean floors. 1 citations
(C) Resilient sheeting shall be removed by cutting with wetting of the snip point and wetting during delamination. Rip-up of resilient sheet floor material is prohibited.
(D) All scraping of residual adhesive and/or backing shall be performed using wet methods. Open (g)(8)(i)(d) 2 citations
(E) Dry sweeping is prohibited. 2 citations
(F) Mechanical chipping is prohibited unless performed in a negative pressure enclosure which meets the requirements of paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this section. 3 citations
(G) Tiles shall be removed intact, unless the employer demonstrates that intact removal is not possible. 4 citations
(H) When tiles are heated and can be removed intact, wetting may be omitted.
(I) Resilient flooring material including associated mastic and backing shall be assumed to be asbestos-containing unless an industrial hygienist determines that it is asbestos-free using recognized analytical techniques. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: VA (7), CO (4), NC (3), IA (2), MA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FINCHUM SPORTS FLOORS L.L.C. | ABINGDON, VA | $11,905 |
| JM ROMICH ENTERPRISES, INC | GREECE, NY | $5,250 |
| JBS PREPARED FOODS | SOUTH BEND, IN | $4,000 |
| SEMCO SERVICES, INC. | BLACKSBURG, VA | $3,250 |
| 317743473 - PSR WEST COAST BUILDERS INC | PORTLAND, OR | $3,037 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(g)(8)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Prohibitions and/or restrictions on aggressive methods for removing asbestos-containing mastic from floors. (2005-05-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(g) Methods of compliance 297 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(1) 105 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(8) Additional Controls for Class II work 71 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(7) Work practices and engineering controls for Class II work 40 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(5) Specific control methods for Class I work 29 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(7)(i) 25 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(8)(ii) 18 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(1)(ii) 16 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(4) Class I Requirements 15 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(5)(i) 15 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(8)(iii) 15 citations
- 1926.1101(g)(1)(iii) 13 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
Can asbestos flooring be sanded?
No. Flooring or its backing must not be sanded.
How must floors be cleaned?
With vacuums equipped with a HEPA filter, disposable dust bag and metal floor tool with no brush; dry sweeping is prohibited.
Must flooring be assumed to contain asbestos?
Yes, resilient flooring including its mastic and backing must be assumed asbestos-containing unless an industrial hygienist determines it is asbestos-free using recognized analytical techniques.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1101 (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.