1926.51(f)(3): Washing Facilities on Construction Sites
Employers must make lavatories available at all construction workplaces, with hot and cold or tepid running water, hand soap or similar cleanser, and individual hand towels or air blowers. This does not apply to mobile crews or normally unattended sites if workers have transportation readily available to nearby washing facilities meeting these rules.
Key takeaways
- 1926.51(f)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 91 times in the last 3 years, in 53 inspections, with $36,878 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PR (36), NC (30), TN (8).
- Related part: 1926.51(f) Washing facilities (142 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.51(f)(3) ("Lavatories") is one requirement inside 1926.51 Sanitation, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart D). It includes 4 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
(3) Lavatories. 91 citations
(i) Lavatories shall be made available in all places of employment. The requirements of this subdivision do not apply to mobile crews or to normally unattended work locations if employees working at these locations have transportation readily available to nearby washing facilities which meet the other requirements of this paragraph. Open (f)(3)(i) 10 citations
(ii) Each lavatory shall be provided with hot and cold running water, or tepid running water. 9 citations
(iii) Hand soap or similar cleansing agents shall be provided. Open (f)(3)(iii) 37 citations
(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. Open (f)(3)(iv) 35 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.51.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: PR (36), NC (30), TN (8), VA (7), FL (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DIVISION 16 LLC | CAGUAS, PR | $6,750 |
| QB GROUP LLC | DORADO, PR | $6,249 |
| RR NEW STEEL CORP | YABUCOA, PR | $6,000 |
| PW CONTRACTOR CORP | YABUCOA, PR | $3,750 |
| PLOMER�A LA FAMILIA LLC | CAGUAS, PR | $3,750 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.51(f)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.51(f)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.51(f) Washing facilities 142 citations
- 1926.51(f)(1) 49 citations
- 1926.51(f)(3)(iii) 37 citations
- 1926.51(f)(3)(iv) 35 citations
- 1926.51(f)(3)(i) 10 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
What must a jobsite lavatory have?
Hot and cold running water or tepid running water, hand soap or similar cleansing agent, and individual towels or air blowers.
Do mobile crews need lavatories on site?
Not if they have transportation readily available to nearby washing facilities that meet the requirements.
Are shared cloth towels allowed?
Only individual hand towels or sections, air blowers, or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling.
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 2026-10-19
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.