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29 CFR 1926.501: Fall protection in construction

Subpart M—Fall Protection · official heading: Duty to have fall protection

Construction employers have to protect workers from falls of 6 feet or more to a lower level, with guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems. It covers unprotected edges, roofs, holes, ramps and excavations. In our data it is the rule OSHA cites most.

104,797citations since 2015
78,540employers cited
96%serious, willful or repeat
$2,672median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1926.501 104,797 times since 2015, against 78,540 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $453,559,791 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1926.501(b)(13) · 61,839 citations

(13) Residential construction. Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of § 1926.502.

1926.501(b)(1) · 15,993 citations

(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges. Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

1926.501(b)(10) · 9,614 citations

(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see appendix A to subpart M of this part), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted.

1926.501(b)(11) · 8,070 citations

(11) Steep roofs. Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toeboards, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

1926.501(b)(4)(ii) · 2,247 citations

(ii) Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers.

1926.501(b)(4)(i) · 2,042 citations

(4) Holes. (i) Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.

1926.501(b)(14) · 1,554 citations

(14) Wall openings. Each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/working surface, shall be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system.

1926.501(b)(15) · 819 citations

(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided in § 1926.500(a)(2) or in § 1926.501 (b)(1) through (b)(14), each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system.

Industries cited most

  • Construction 102,670
  • Wholesale Trade 453
  • Manufacturing 445
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 317
  • Utilities 211
  • Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 133

States cited most

Recently cited employers