HomeKnowledgeOSHA 1926.501 — Fall Protection
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OSHA 1926.501 — Fall Protection

Updated Apr 3, 2026
Workers must have fall protection systems when working at heights of 6 feet or more

Every employee on a construction site exposed to falling 6 feet or more must be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or warning line systems with safety monitors. Personnel fall arrest systems (PFAS) consisting of an anchorage, connectors, and a body harness are required when other methods are not feasible. Fall protection must be used at roofing work, holes in floors or walls, ramps and runways, excavations, dangerous equipment, trenches, and any work area where employees could fall 6 feet or more. Guardrails must consist of a top rail 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches, a midrail, and a toeboard. All guardrail systems must be able to withstand 200 pounds of force applied at any direction on the top rail. Safety net systems must be installed no more than 8 feet below the walking surface and must extend 8 feet beyond the edge. Safety nets must be inspected regularly and replaced when damaged. Warning line systems must be set 10 feet from the roof edge or as close to the edge as possible, and must be attended by a safety monitor. Safety monitors must be trained on fall hazards and able to exercise effective control over unsafe acts. Fall arrest systems must have anchors with a minimum strength of 5,000 pounds per attached worker. All fall arrest equipment must meet ANSI standards and must be inspected regularly. Lanyards must not be longer than 6 feet and must be secured to prevent swinging into objects. All personnel working at heights must be trained on fall hazards and protection methods. Rescue procedures must be in place in case of falls.

TAGS
oshafall-protection1926heights
DETAILS
subpart
M
applicability
All construction sites
osha standard
29 CFR 1926.501
penalty range
$15,625-$156,259
citation frequency
Most Common
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