At a glance
- Construction: 29 CFR 1926.51(a)(1) to (a)(5). General industry: 29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(i). Federal heat standard: proposed, not in force.
- About 5 minutes: read the script out loud, then ask the three questions.
- FY2025 citations: 29 CFR 1926.51, 92 (84 at construction sites); 29 CFR 1910.141, 423 (8 at construction sites).
- Free PDF: the script, the questions, the rule and a 20-line sign-in sheet. No account, no email.
Read this to your crew
Today's talk is about water. On a hot day, we lose water through sweat faster than most of us think to replace it, and once we fall behind, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke come next. Drinking enough is the simplest thing we can do about it.
How much? For moderate work in the heat lasting less than 2 hours, NIOSH recommends 1 cup, about 8 ounces, every 15 to 20 minutes. Small amounts, often. A whole bottle at lunch does not make up for a dry morning. If you sweat for several hours, add a sports drink with electrolytes. NIOSH also says to keep total fluids at or below 6 cups an hour.
In the heat, NIOSH advises avoiding alcohol and drinks high in caffeine or sugar. Alcohol the night before counts too.
Here is what the site provides. In construction, an adequate supply of potable water in all places of employment (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(1)). Portable water containers close tightly and have a tap, and nobody dips water out of them (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(2)). The container is marked and used for nothing else (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(3)), and the common drinking cup is prohibited (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(4)).
Keep the water close to where we work, in the shade and cool if we can; NIOSH recommends water below 59 degrees F, near the work area. If the cooler is a long walk away, people drink less, so tell me and we will move it.
Watch each other. Thirst, a headache, dizziness and cramps are signs to stop, get in the shade and drink. Confusion or collapse is an emergency: call 911 and start cooling the person right away.
New workers and anyone back from a week or more away are most at risk, because their bodies have not adjusted to the heat yet. Keep an eye on them in their first days.
Three questions for the crew
- Where is the nearest drinking water from where you will work today?
Listen for: A specific place, close to the work. If it is far, move it before the heat builds. - How do you know you are falling behind on water?
Listen for: Thirst, headache, dizziness, cramps. Drink before those show up. - What do you do if a coworker becomes confused or collapses in the heat?
Listen for: Call 911, move them to shade, start cooling them right away and stay with them.
What are OSHA's rules for drinking water on a jobsite?
In construction, an adequate supply of potable water is provided in all places of employment (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(1)). Portable containers used to dispense drinking water can be tightly closed and are equipped with a tap, and water is not dipped from them (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(2)). A container used to distribute drinking water is clearly marked and not used for any other purpose (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(3)). The common drinking cup is prohibited (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(4)), and where single-use cups are supplied, a sanitary container for the unused cups and a receptacle for the used ones are provided (29 CFR 1926.51(a)(5)).
In general industry, potable water is provided in all places of employment for drinking and the other uses the rule lists (29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(i)).
No federal heat standard is in force. OSHA's heat rule is still a proposal (Federal Register, 89 FR 70698, August 30, 2024; last notice 90 FR 46110, September 25, 2025), and OSHA cites heat hazards under the General Duty Clause, section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act. Some State Plans have heat rules of their own; check the state where the work is.
The paragraphs, word for word:
“(a) Potable water. (1) An adequate supply of potable water shall be provided in all places of employment.”
“(2) Portable containers used to dispense drinking water shall be capable of being tightly closed, and equipped with a tap. Water shall not be dipped from containers.”
“(4) The common drinking cup is prohibited.”
“(b) Water supply—(1) Potable water. (i) Potable water shall be provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises, and personal service rooms.”
How often did OSHA cite these rules in FY2025?
| Standard | Construction sites | Other industries | All FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926.51Sanitation, construction: drinking water is paragraph (a)Paragraph 1926.51(a): 7 of these | 84 | 8 | 92 |
| 29 CFR 1910.141Sanitation, general industry: drinking water is paragraph (b)(1)Paragraph 1910.141(b)(1): 27 of these | 8 | 415 | 423 |
Citation items under 29 CFR issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, at federal and State Plan inspections, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Construction means an inspection whose NAICS code starts with 23. The counts describe inspected establishments, not every employer.
How much water, and when?
| Situation | NIOSH recommendation |
|---|---|
| Moderate work in the heat, less than 2 hours | 1 cup (8 oz.) of water every 15 to 20 minutes |
| Sweating for several hours | Sports drinks with balanced electrolytes |
| Total intake | No more than 6 cups per hour |
| What to avoid | Alcohol and drinks high in caffeine or sugar |
| Where the water is | Portable, cooler than 59°F, near the work area, with individual cups |
Source: CDC/NIOSH, Heat Stress, Workplace Recommendations.