OSHA Cleaning Compliance Checklist for Janitorial Teams

OSHA cleaning compliance for janitorial teams centers on maintaining sanitary conditions, controlling hazards, and protecting workers through training, PPE, and clear procedures. There is no single “cleaning” rule; effective checklists must combine housekeeping, sanitation, chemical safety, bloodborne pathogens, and training requirements.

Core OSHA Standards Involved

• Walking-Working Surfaces for safe, clean floors.
• Sanitation for toilets, washing facilities, and hygiene areas.
• Hazard Communication for cleaning chemicals.
• Bloodborne Pathogens for exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Respiratory Protection when airborne contaminants are present.

Housekeeping and Sanitation

• Keep workrooms, passageways, and service areas clean, orderly, and sanitary.
• Maintain floors as dry as feasible; clean spills promptly to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
• Maintain toilets, wash stations, and break areas in sanitary condition with adequate supplies.
• Remove waste regularly, including hazardous or combustible waste, in line with applicable regulations.

Chemical Safety and Hazard Communication

• Maintain a written hazard communication program covering all hazardous cleaning chemicals.
• Ensure proper labeling, safety data sheets access, and employee training on safe use, storage, and emergency response.
• Store cleaning agents to minimize fire, spill, and exposure risks.
• Recognize that some absorbents or methods may be restricted in particular settings, such as food-handling areas.

PPE, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Biohazards

• Provide task-appropriate PPE such as gloves, eye/face protection, and when needed, gowns or respirators for corrosive cleaners, disinfectants, or biological contaminants.
• When potential exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials exists, implement an exposure control plan.
• Use specific cleanup and disinfection procedures with EPA-registered products for biohazards.
• Dispose of regulated waste properly, including red-bag waste handling.

Training, Documentation, and Penalties

• Train employees to recognize hazards, use chemicals and equipment safely, and follow emergency and spill-response procedures.
• Support compliance with written cleaning procedures, inspection logs, and training records.
• Violations can result in significant civil penalties per violation, with higher consequences for willful or repeated noncompliance.

Janitorial Compliance Checklist

Checklist Area	OSHA Focus for Compliance
Floors & walkways	Clean, orderly, dry where feasible; prompt spill cleanup; clear access to exits.
Restrooms & hygiene	Sanitary toilets, handwashing facilities, and stocked supplies; regular cleaning.
Chemicals & labeling	Labeled containers, SDS access, hazard communication program, safe storage.
Biohazard cleanup	Bloodborne Pathogens plan, EPA-registered disinfectants, regulated waste handling.
PPE & equipment	Task-appropriate PPE, training in use/limits, maintenance of tools and machines.
Training & records	Documented training, written procedures, inspections, and corrective-action tracking.