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Free toolbox talk: housekeeping, slips and trips
A one-page jobsite housekeeping talk for fall and winter, when mud, wet leaves, ice and early darkness make walkways worse. Clear passageways and stairs, nails in scrap lumber, waste containers and cleanup intervals from OSHA 1926.25, cords and hoses across walkways, lighting, three questions for the crew and a sign-in block. Read it here or print this page.
Housekeeping, Slips and Trips
Why it matters. Cluttered decks, cords across walkways, scrap with nails and wet surfaces cause many injuries, and they slow everyone down.
Key points
- Keep work areas, passageways and stairs clear of scrap and debris during the job (1926.25(a)).
- Remove or bend over protruding nails in form and scrap lumber (1926.25(a)).
- Use proper waste containers, and remove debris at regular intervals (1926.25(b), (c)).
- Route cords and hoses overhead or along edges, or cover them where people walk.
- Clean up spills, mud, ice and sawdust on walking surfaces.
- Light walkways and stairs, and carry loads so you can see where you step.
Ask the crew
- What is the worst trip hazard on this site right now?
- Who cleans up at the end of each day?
- Where does scrap with nails go?
Reference: 29 CFR 1926.25 | osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.25
Sign-in
Date ______ · Job site ______ · Talk leader ______
| # | Printed name | Signature | Company / trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
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| 5 |
The printable PDF has 12 sign-in lines.
How to run it
- Hold it walking the main path the crew uses from the parking area to the work, including the stairs, so everyone sees the same hazards.
- Stop at each trip spot you find (cords, hoses, scrap, mud or ice) and fix it on the spot: move, cover, bend nails over, salt or sand.
- Agree out loud who cleans up at the end of each day and where scrap with nails goes.
- Ask the three questions, then have everyone sign and file the page with your safety records.
A training aid that supplements your safety program. Not a substitute for required training, a written safety program, a site-specific hazard assessment, or a competent or qualified person where OSHA requires one. OSHA references are federal (29 CFR 1926 and related parts), checked October 2026; state-plan states may have stricter rules. Not legal advice.
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