It is not a technical order. Housekeeping is a safety-manual requirement — the Air Force carries it in DAFMAN 91-203 chapter 2 as a general safe practice, and every other service carries the equivalent in its own safety programme. The general rule is that all areas, shops, yards, buildings and mobile equipment areas are kept clean and orderly, with supervisors and employees jointly responsible. Specific shops then add their own: paint shops, laboratories, non-destructive inspection, and anywhere flammable liquids are handled each have a tighter standard.
Readers asked this on CheckMyRegs and CheckMyAFI 9 times — this page answers it from the official catalogs and the publications’ own text.
| Branch | Controlling publication | Dated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | DAFMAN 91-203 Current Chapter 2 general safe practices, plus per-shop chapters | 2026-02-24 | Official link |
| Coast Guard | COMDTINST M5100.47D Current General fire safety and housekeeping | 2021-07-27 | Official link |
| Army | AR 385-10 Current Army Safety Program | 2023-07-24 | Official link |
| Navy | OPNAVINST 5100.23H Current Navy safety and occupational health programme | 2020-06-05 | Official link |
| Marine Corps | MCO 5100.29C VOLUMES 1-9 w/CH-2 Current Marine Corps safety management system | 2022-02-08 | Official link |
| DoD-wide | DoDI 6055.01 Current DoD-wide occupational safety policy | 2014-10-14 | Official link |
All areas, shops, yards, buildings and mobile equipment facilities are maintained in a clean and orderly condition, and both supervisors and employees are responsible for housekeeping in the area they work in.
“2.4.9. General Safe Practices. All areas, shops, yards, buildings, and mobile equipment facilities/areas will be maintained in a clean and orderly condition. (T-0) Supervisors and employees are responsible for good housekeeping in or around the work area they are supervising or working.”
Wherever flammable or combustible liquids are used or handled outside closed containers, there must be a means to dispose of leakage or spills promptly and safely, using the safety data sheet for the cleanup procedure and protective equipment.
“22.5. Housekeeping. Where flammable and combustible liquids are used or handled, except in closed containers, means will be provided to dispose promptly and safely of leakage or spills. (T-0) Refer to the appropriate SDSs for spill clean-up procedures and PPE required.”
In non-destructive inspection and oil analysis areas, soiled rags, paper towels and other trash contaminated with oil or grease go into self-closing metal containers that are plainly marked.
“5.2.5. Housekeeping. Good housekeeping is essential to safe operations in the NDI and oil analysis program laboratories. Soiled rags, paper towels, craft paper and other trash contaminated with oil or grease will be placed in self-closing metal containers plainly marked to indicate contents. (T-1) Refer to paragraph 2.4 for additional guidance on housekeeping.”
Laboratory housekeeping treats dry floors as a physical safety requirement — liquid spills are cleaned and dried immediately to remove the slip hazard.
“32.1.1. Housekeeping. A high standard of housekeeping is essential to safe operations in laboratories. Dry floors are essential to physical safety. Liquid spills on floors will be immediately cleaned and dried to minimize the possibility of slipping and falling. (T-0) In addition, wet floors provide a conductive surface which may cause electrical shock, injury, or death. All work and storage areas will be kept clean and free of unnecessary obstructions. (T-0) Equipment and materials will be stored in a safe and orderly manner. (T-1) Refer to Chapter 2 for additional guidance on housekeeping.”
Tools, materials and debris may not be allowed to build up in quantities that could create a hazard, and containers are provided on scaffolds so loose material has somewhere to go.
“16.6.11. Tools, materials, and debris will not be allowed to accumulate in quantities that could cause a hazard. (T-0) When possible, containers will be provided on scaffolds for storage of loose materials. (T-0) Supervisors will ensure good housekeeping practices are followed to prevent tripping hazards. (T-1)”
Paint and dope shops add their own standard aimed at controlling leakage and the accidental escape of flammable, combustible or toxic liquids, with work clothing kept in vented metal lockers separate from street clothing.
“27.2.4. Housekeeping. Good housekeeping is essential in paint and dope shops to control leakage and prevent the accidental escape of flammable, combustible, or toxic liquids. Spills will be cleaned up promptly. (T-0) Work clothing will be stored in metal lockers that are vented at top and bottom. (T-0) Street clothing and protective clothing will be kept in separate lockers. (T-0)”
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Updated 2026-08-01. CheckMyRegs is an unofficial index — always cite the official publication.