1926.51(a)(1): Drinking Water on the Job
Employers must provide an adequate supply of potable (safe drinking) water in all places of employment.
Key takeaways
- 1926.51(a)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $83,369 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: FL (4), NV (4), UT (3).
- Related part: 1926.51(a) Potable water (22 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.51(a)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.51 Sanitation, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart D). 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
(1) An adequate supply of potable water shall be provided in all places of employment. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.51.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.51(a)(1).
At 3:15 p.m. on June 5, 2024, employees noticed that their coworker, Employee #1, appeared unwell and advised him to go to the car and cool off in the air conditioning. About 15 minutes later, the employee was found on the ground experiencing convulsions. Emergency…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: FL (4), NV (4), UT (3), TX (2), PR (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| QUAIL CONSTRUCTION LLC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $11,585 |
| FIRST STAR CONSTRUCTION LLC | BENTONVILLE, AR | $11,585 |
| JERRY'S INC. | MILLSBORO, DE | $9,268 |
| AZAR SERVICES, LLC | LAREDO, TX | $7,530 |
| FOUR STAR OF MANATEE COUNTY, INC. | SARASOTA, FL | $6,250 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.51(a)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.51(a)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.51(a) Potable water 22 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Must construction employers provide drinking water?
Yes. An adequate supply of potable water must be provided in all places of employment.
What does potable mean?
Water that is safe to drink.
How much water is required?
The rule says an adequate supply; this paragraph does not set a specific amount.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.51 (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.