1910.140(c)(10): Snaphook and Carabiner Connections
Employers must make sure snaphooks and carabiners are not connected, unless designed for it, directly to webbing, rope or wire rope, to each other, to a D-ring that already has another connector, to a horizontal lifeline, or to any object shaped or sized so the gate could be pressed open and come loose.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(c)(10) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $25,768 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (2), NY (2), ND (1).
- Related part: 1910.140(c) General requirements (196 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.140(c)(10) is one requirement inside 1910.140 Personal fall protection systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(10) Snaphooks and carabiners must not be connected to any of the following unless they are designed for such connections: 10 citations
(i) Directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope; Open (c)(10)(i) 5 citations
(ii) To each other; 1 citations
(iii) To a D-ring to which another snaphook, carabiner, or connector is attached;
(iv) To a horizontal life line; or
(v) To any object that is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the snaphook or carabiner such that unintentional disengagement could occur when the connected object depresses the snaphook or carabiner gate, allowing the components to separate. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.140.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.140(c)(10).
At 11:30 a.m. on December 26, 2023, an employee working for a performing arts company was working in the rafters of a convention center setting up rigging to raise motors for lights and sound equipment. The employee fell from the rafters 32 feet to the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: OH (2), NY (2), ND (1), WI (1), TN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SENTRY, LLC | WATERTOWN, SD | $8,193 |
| UPSTAGE CENTER, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $7,944 |
| PATRIOT TREE SERVICE, LLC | HARPERS FERRY, WV | $2,500 |
| EVOLUTION CLEANING CORP | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,247 |
| M CONSTRUCTION & LANDSCAPE | MAPLETON, ND | $2,009 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(c)(10), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.140(c)(10).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.140(c) General requirements 196 citations
- 1910.140(c)(18) 65 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13) 49 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13)(i) 27 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13)(ii) 22 citations
- 1910.140(c)(20) 15 citations
- 1910.140(c)(11) 10 citations
- 1910.140(c)(21) 8 citations
- 1910.140(c)(17) 8 citations
- 1910.140(c)(12) 7 citations
- 1910.140(c)(10)(i) 5 citations
- 1910.140(c)(19) 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clip a snaphook directly to rope?
Not unless it is designed for that connection.
Can two snaphooks be clipped together?
Not unless they are designed for such connections.
Why does object shape matter?
An incompatible object can depress the gate and let the components separate.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.140 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.