At a glance
- General industry: 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1) to (a)(3). Construction: debris kept cleared from work areas, passageways and stairs, 29 CFR 1926.25(a).
- About 5 minutes: read the script out loud, then ask the three questions.
- FY2025 citations: 29 CFR 1910.22, 1,229 (62 at construction sites); 29 CFR 1926.25, 111 (108 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 we talk about the fall nobody plans for: the one on flat ground. No ladder, no roof edge. A wet floor, a hose across the walkway, a scrap of plywood on the stairs. It takes half a second, and it can mean a broken wrist, a torn knee or a head that hits the slab.
Slips happen when the boot loses its grip: water, mud, oil, ice, sawdust on a smooth floor, plastic sheeting on concrete. Trips happen when the foot hits something it did not expect: cords, hoses, rebar ends, a lip in the floor, material left in a walkway. Missteps happen when we cannot see where we step: carrying a load that blocks the view, poor lighting, walking while reading a phone.
Most of the fix is housekeeping, and it belongs to all of us. If you run a cord or a hose, route it along the wall or overhead, or cover it. If you cut it, you clean it up. Scrap with nails goes in the bin, not on the floor. Stairs and walkways stay clear; they are also how we get out in an emergency.
Wet and icy spots get handled on the spot. Clean the spill, or mark it and tell me if you cannot. On a cold morning, the shaded side of the building and the steel decking freeze first, so look before you step, and sand or salt the paths we use most.
Footwear matters more than people think. A worn-out sole has no grip left. Wear boots with a sole made for the surfaces we walk on, and replace them when the tread is smooth.
Finally, how we walk. Keep one hand free on stairs and use the handrail. Carry loads you can see over, or get help. Walk, do not run, and put the phone away while you move. A fall on flat ground can still put someone in the hospital, so look at the floor around you on the way out of this meeting.
Three questions for the crew
- What on this site right now could make someone slip or trip?
Listen for: Specific spots: the hose by the gate, the wet ramp, the cord across the hallway. Fix them before work starts. - Who cleans up a spill or a mess when it happens?
Listen for: The person who sees it, or the person who made it. If they cannot clean it, they mark it and tell the supervisor. - When are you most likely to miss a hazard underfoot?
Listen for: Carrying a load, walking fast, looking at a phone, poor light, ice early in the morning.
What does OSHA say about walking surfaces and housekeeping?
In general industry, the employer keeps places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms and walking-working surfaces clean, orderly and sanitary (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1)), keeps each workroom floor clean and, to the extent feasible, dry (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)), and keeps walking-working surfaces free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow and ice (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3)).
In construction, form and scrap lumber with protruding nails and all other debris are kept cleared from work areas, passageways and stairs, in and around buildings or other structures (29 CFR 1926.25(a)).
A fall to a lower level falls under a different rule. In construction, an employee on a walking or working surface with an unprotected side or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level is protected by guardrails, a safety net or a personal fall arrest system (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)); the fall protection talk covers it.
The paragraphs, word for word:
“(1) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.”
“(2) The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition. When wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats must be provided.”
“(3) Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.”
“(a) During the course of construction, alteration, or repairs, form and scrap lumber with protruding nails, and all other debris, shall be kept cleared from work areas, passageways, and stairs, in and around buildings or other structures.”
How often did OSHA cite these rules in FY2025?
| Standard | Construction sites | Other industries | All FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.22Walking-working surfaces, general requirements | 62 | 1,167 | 1,229 |
| 29 CFR 1926.25Housekeeping, construction | 108 | 3 | 111 |
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.
Where do slips and trips start, and what fixes them?
| What we see | Why it drops people | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cords and hoses across a walkway | The foot catches | Route them along walls or overhead, or cover them |
| Scrap lumber and offcuts | Trips, and nails through the sole | Into the bin as you go |
| Water, mud, oil or sawdust on a smooth floor | The sole loses grip | Clean it, or mark it and report it |
| Ice on decking, ramps and shaded walkways | No grip at all | Sand or salt it, or take another route |
| Stairs used as storage | Missteps with full hands | Keep stairs clear, keep a hand on the rail |
| Poor lighting | Hazards you cannot see | Add temporary lights before the work starts |
| Worn boot soles | No tread left | Replace the boots |