Keeping Walkways, Aisles, and Exits Clear

OSHA 1926.25(a) calls out work areas, passageways, and stairs by name — debris and scrap lumber get kept cleared from all of them. The storage standard adds the movement rule: 1926.250(a)(3) says aisles and passageways shall be kept clear to provide for the free and safe movement of material-handling equipment or employees, and kept in good repair.

That means a walkway isn't a place to set a toolbox 'for a minute,' stage material, or coil a hose. If a forklift or a loaded cart has to use the aisle, leave the clearance for it.

Some things never get blocked, even for a minute:

• Exit doors and exit routes.
• Stairwells and the path to them.
• Fire extinguishers, standpipes, and alarm pulls.
• Electrical panels and disconnects.
• Eyewash stations and first-aid equipment.

In an emergency you don't get a second try. If material is stacked in front of a panel or an exit, move it now — that's a stop-and-fix, not an end-of-day item.

Stairs are named in the standard for a reason — a single offcut or a coiled cord on a stair tread turns a normal step into a fall. Store nothing on stairs, keep treads and landings clear, and keep them in good repair.

The same goes for scaffold platforms, ramps, and elevated walkways. Loose material underfoot at height is far worse than at grade. Keep the deck clear of anything you're not actively using.