1926.51 Construction Sanitation: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Construction worksites must provide adequate potable drinking water, toilet facilities in numbers based on crew size, and washing facilities where needed. Drinking water containers must be sealable and labeled, and common drinking cups are prohibited. The section also addresses food handling, waste disposal, and vermin control in temporary sleeping quarters and changing rooms where provided. Requirements apply to all construction employers, including on short-duration projects.
What the standard requires
- Supply adequate potable water in clean, closable, labeled containers
- Provide toilet facilities based on the number of employees
- Provide washing facilities where workers handle harmful contaminants
- Prohibit common drinking cups
Hazards it addresses
- Dehydration and heat illness
- Illness from contaminated water or poor hygiene
- Ingestion of toxic substances such as lead
Cited on construction sites lacking portable toilets or drinking water, especially in road work and residential building.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.51(f)(1) | Adequate washing facilities must be provided for employees engaged in operations where contaminants may be harmful. | 16 | 16 | $0 |
| 1926.51(a)(1) | An adequate supply of potable water must be provided in all places of employment. | 8 | 8 | $5,462 |
| 1926.51(f)(3)(iii) | Adequate washing facilities must be provided for employees engaged in operations where contaminants may be harmful. | 4 | 4 | $0 |
| 1926.51(f)(3)(iv) | Adequate washing facilities must be provided for employees engaged in operations where contaminants may be harmful. | 2 | 2 | $0 |
| 1926.51(f) | Adequate washing facilities must be provided for employees engaged in operations where contaminants may be harmful. | 1 | 1 | $1,000 |
| 1926.51(h) | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 32 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $56,007 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $45,808, 18% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Other-than-serious 56%; Serious 38%; Repeat 6%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 14 | 14 | $4,900 | $4,150 |
| Utah | 4 | 4 | $8,400 | $6,300 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | $4,965 | $4,965 |
| Florida | 2 | 5 | $5,958 | $3,575 |
| Texas | 2 | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1 | $11,585 | $11,585 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | $9,268 | $9,268 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Nevada | 1 | 1 | $9,931 | $4,966 |
By industry
- Construction: 29 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.K. Drywall, Inc. | Salt Lake City, UT | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $4,200 | $2,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jab Construction Services LLC | American Fork, UT | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| BRZ Coatings Inc. | Circle Pines, MN | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 6, 2026Contested Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Barcon Masonry LLC | Easton, MD | Jul 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Jul 23, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 5, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Richmond, TX | Jul 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Jul 31, 2026Contest deadline ~Jul 28, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| The Bainbridge Construction LLC | Orlando, FL | Jun 30, 2026 | 3 | $5,958 | $3,575 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Spindler Construction Corporation | Logan, UT | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $4,200 | $4,200 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| McMain Comfort Solutions LLC | Grantsville, UT | May 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Haskell Company | Orlando, FL | May 4, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Total Flooring Systems Inc. | Westminster, MD | Apr 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 5, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Raskin Built, LLC | Owings Mills, MD | Apr 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Rosharon, TX | Mar 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ocean Fireproofing LLC | Glen Burnie, MD | Mar 23, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Mar 31, 2026Contested Apr 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Telligent Masonry, LLC | Columbia, MD | Mar 23, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Petrie Construction LLC | Owings Mills, MD | Mar 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Mar 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Brothers Masonry & Construction LLC | Clarksburg, MD | Feb 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Feb 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Eza Construction, Inc. | Ellicott City, MD | Jan 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| First Star Construction LLC | Bentonville, AR | Jan 14, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $11,585 | ContestedAbatement due Feb 10, 2026Contested Jan 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Handy Crew H.i.c. LLC | Hagerstown, MD | Dec 31, 2025 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jan 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jerry's Inc. | Millsboro, DE | Dec 23, 2025 | 1 | $9,268 | $9,268 | ContestedAbatement due Jan 23, 2026Contested Jan 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dry Otter Waterproofing, Inc. | Charlotte, NC | Dec 11, 2025 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final orderAbatement due Feb 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Unisource Services, LLC | Columbia, MD | Nov 21, 2025 | 1 | $1,400 | $1,400 | OpenAbatement due Dec 3, 2025Contest deadline ~Dec 15, 2025 (est.) | osha.gov |
| The Barricade Company, LLC | Las Vegas, NV | Nov 4, 2025 | 1 | $9,931 | $4,966 | Informal settlementAbatement due Nov 12, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Goel Services, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Oct 24, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Formal settlementAbatement due Nov 3, 2025Contested Nov 14, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Frederick, MD | Oct 21, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 29, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Romero Construction, LLC | Hagerstown, MD | Oct 21, 2025 | 1 | $2,500 | $1,750 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 29, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Gso Contracting, Inc. | Summerfield, NC | Oct 21, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 27, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Dogwood Homes, LLC | Summerfield, NC | Oct 20, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 24, 2025 | osha.gov |
| C & D Construction Co., Inc. | Columbia, MD | Oct 15, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 23, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (15 shared inspections)
- 1926.50 Construction First Aid (13 shared inspections)
- 1926.1153 Silica in Construction (6 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (6 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (6 shared inspections)
- 1926.451 Scaffold Safety (4 shared inspections)
- 1926.21 Construction Safety Training (3 shared inspections)
- 1926.454 Scaffold Training (3 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.51 require?
Construction worksites must provide adequate potable drinking water, toilet facilities in numbers based on crew size, and washing facilities where needed. Drinking water containers must be sealable and labeled, and common drinking cups are prohibited. The section also addresses food handling, waste disposal, and vermin control in temporary sleeping quarters and changing rooms where provided. Requirements apply to all construction employers, including on short-duration projects.
How often was 1926.51 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.51 (Construction Sanitation) appeared in 29 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 32 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.51 is cited most?
1926.51(f)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 16 items: Adequate washing facilities must be provided for employees engaged in operations where contaminants may be harmful.
Which states cite 1926.51 most often?
The most citations under 1926.51 in this period were issued in Maryland, Utah, North Carolina.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.51 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $0; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $56,007 proposed, $45,808 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.51 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 16% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.