1926.252: Disposal of Waste Materials
When materials are dropped more than 20 feet outside a building's exterior walls, an enclosed chute must be used. Debris dropped through floor holes without chutes needs a barricaded drop area at least 42 inches high and at least 6 feet back, with warning signs at each level; scrap must be removed as work progresses, burning must follow local fire rules, and solvent waste, oily rags and flammable liquids must be kept in fire resistant covered containers.
Key takeaways
- 1926.252 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 50 times in the last 3 years, in 50 inspections, with $183,762 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MA (8), MD (6), PA (4).
- Most-cited part: 1926.252(a) (42 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.252, "Disposal of waste materials", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart H). It has 5 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 1926.252 (5 paragraphs)
(a) Whenever materials are dropped more than 20 feet to any point lying outside the exterior walls of the building, an enclosed chute of wood, or equivalent material, shall be used. For the purpose of this paragraph, an enclosed chute is a slide, closed in on all sides, through which material is moved from a high place to a lower one. Open (a) 42 citations
(b) When debris is dropped through holes in the floor without the use of chutes, the area onto which the material is dropped shall be completely enclosed with barricades not less than 42 inches high and not less than 6 feet back from the projected edge of the opening above. Signs warning of the hazard of falling materials shall be posted at each level. Removal shall not be permitted in this lower area until debris handling ceases above. 1 citations
(c) All scrap lumber, waste material, and rubbish shall be removed from the immediate work area as the work progresses. 6 citations
(d) Disposal of waste material or debris by burning shall comply with local fire regulations.
(e) All solvent waste, oily rags, and flammable liquids shall be kept in fire resistant covered containers until removed from worksite. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 50 inspections cited 1926.252 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Top states: MA (8), MD (6), PA (4), IL (4), MN (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AZUAY CONSTRUCTION LLC | EAST BOSTON, MA | $64,529 |
| D-T ARCO, LLC | EAST BOSTON, MA | $15,000 |
| URX2026XJW184X0233 - NORTHWESTERN BUILDERS, LLC DBA NORTH WEST ROOFING AZ | MESA, AZ | $9,931 |
| INTECH CONSTRUCTION, LLC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,467 |
| JJ RENOVATIONS INC. | MADISON, WI | $7,098 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.252.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.252(a) 42 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is a debris chute required?
When materials are dropped more than 20 feet to any point outside the exterior walls of the building.
How must the drop area under a floor hole be protected?
Completely enclosed with barricades not less than 42 inches high and not less than 6 feet back from the projected edge of the opening, with warning signs at each level.
How must oily rags be stored?
In fire resistant covered containers until removed from the worksite.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.252 (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.