Housekeeping, Slips, and Trips

Why it matters

Nobody brags about good housekeeping, but messy sites hurt people every day: a scrap of banding underfoot, a cord across a walkway, mud on a ramp. OSHA requires clear walkways and regular debris removal because same-level falls break wrists, twist knees, and end careers quietly.

Hazards

• ⚠ Scrap, banding, and offcuts left in walkways
• ⚠ Cords and hoses run across paths instead of overhead or along walls
• ⚠ Mud, ice, and spilled liquids on ramps and stairs
• ⚠ Protruding nails in stripped lumber
• ⚠ Blocked exits and cluttered material staging

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Clean as you go. Scrap goes to the pile or dumpster when it is created, not at the end of the week.
• ✓ Route cords and hoses overhead or along edges; cover them where they must cross a path.
• ✓ Pull or bend over nails in stripped lumber immediately per 1926.25(a).
• ✓ Keep stairs, ramps, and exits clear at all times. No staging in walkways.
• ✓ Sand, gravel, or clear icy and muddy paths before the crew walks them.
• ✓ Assign end-of-day cleanup as a task with a name on it, not a suggestion.

Crew discussion questions

1. Where is the worst walkway on this site right now?
2. Which cords or hoses need re-routing or covers today?
3. Who owns end-of-day cleanup this week?
4. Is any stripped lumber sitting with nails up?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.25

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