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29 CFR 1910.28: Fall protection in general industry

Subpart D—Walking-Working Surfaces · official heading: Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection

Since 2017, general industry employers must protect workers from falls of 4 feet or more, with guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest or another system the rule allows.

11,492citations since 2015
9,579employers cited
86%serious, willful or repeat
$2,100median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.28 11,492 times since 2015, against 9,579 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $42,513,384 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.28(b)(1)(i) · 5,621 citations

(b) Protection from fall hazards—(1) Unprotected sides and edges. (i) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following:

1910.28(b)(11)(ii) · 1,249 citations

(ii) Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers is equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as follows:

1910.28(b)(3)(ii) · 836 citations

(ii) Each employee is protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems.

1910.28(b)(3)(i) · 623 citations

(i) Each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following:

1910.28(b)(6)(i) · 357 citations

(i) Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.

1910.28(b)(1)(ia) · 296 citations

(A) Guardrail systems;

1910.28(b)(3)(iv) · 293 citations

(iv) Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used.

1910.28(b)(15) · 258 citations

(15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided elsewhere in this section or by other subparts of this part, the employer must ensure each employee on a walking-working surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by:

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 4,507
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 938
  • Wholesale Trade 935
  • Retail Trade 782
  • Construction 774
  • Transportation and Warehousing 667

States cited most

Recently cited employers