1926.51(f): Washing Facilities on Construction Sites
Construction employers must provide adequate washing facilities near the worksite for workers using paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides or other harmful contaminants. Facilities must be kept sanitary, lavatories must have running water, soap and towels or dryers, and where showers are required, one shower is needed for each 10 employees of each sex, or fraction, who shower on the same shift.
Key takeaways
- 1926.51(f) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 142 times in the last 3 years, in 103 inspections, with $55,638 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MD (44), PR (37), NC (30).
- Related part: 1926.51(f)(3) Lavatories (91 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.51(f) ("Washing facilities") is one requirement inside 1926.51 Sanitation, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart D). It includes 13 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
(f) Washing facilities. 142 citations
(1) The employer shall provide adequate washing facilities for employees engaged in the application of paints, coating, herbicides, or insecticides, or in other operations where contaminants may be harmful to the employees. Such facilities shall be in near proximity to the worksite and shall be so equipped as to enable employees to remove such substances. Open (f)(1) 49 citations
(2) General. Washing facilities shall be maintained in a sanitary condition. 1 citations
(3) Lavatories. Open (f)(3) 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
(4) Showers.
(i) Whenever showers are required by a particular standard, the showers shall be provided in accordance with paragraphs (f)(4) (ii) through (v) of this section.
(ii) One shower shall be provided for each 10 employees of each sex, or numerical fraction thereof, who are required to shower during the same shift.
(iii) Body soap or other appropriate cleansing agents convenient to the showers shall be provided as specified in paragraph (f)(3)(iii) of this section.
(iv) Showers shall be provided with hot and cold water feeding a common discharge line.
(v) Employees who use showers shall be provided with individual clean towels.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.51.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 65 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Top states: MD (44), PR (37), NC (30), TN (8), VA (7)
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 |
| NETO MASONRY LLC | FREDERICK, MD | $4,000 |
| PW CONTRACTOR CORP | YABUCOA, PR | $3,750 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.51(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Region V request for enforcment guidance on portland cement and hexavalent chromium (2010-10-18)
- Whether a pH buffer solution can be used as a cleansing agent for employees who work with portland cement (2008-04-11)
- Clarification of decontamination procedures for employees involved in Class I asbestos work. (2007-03-01)
- Operations that trigger the requirement for employers to provide washing facilities on construction jobsites under 29 CFR 1926.51(f)(1). (2006-06-12)
- The requirements for washing facilities on construction jobsites. (2005-07-20)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.51(f)(3) Lavatories 91 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
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Frequently asked questions
When are washing facilities required on a construction site?
For employees applying paints, coatings, herbicides or insecticides, or in other operations where contaminants may be harmful.
What must a lavatory have?
Hot and cold or tepid running water, hand soap or similar cleanser, and individual towels or air blowers.
How many showers are needed when showers are required?
One shower for each 10 employees of each sex, or numerical fraction thereof, who must shower during the same shift.
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.