1910.140(c)(13): Fall Arrest Anchorage Strength
Anchorages for personal fall protection, except window cleaners' belt anchors, must support at least 5,000 pounds for each employee attached, or be designed, installed and used under a qualified person's supervision as part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least two.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(c)(13) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 49 times in the last 3 years, in 45 inspections, with $300,215 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (5), NY (5), OR (4).
- 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)(13) is one requirement inside 1910.140 Personal fall protection systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 2 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
(13) Anchorages, except window cleaners' belt anchors covered by paragraph (e) of this section, must be: 49 citations
(i) Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) for each employee attached; or Open (c)(13)(i) 27 citations
(ii) Designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two. Open (c)(13)(ii) 22 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.140.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.140(c)(13).
At 3:15 p.m. on October 2, 2024, Employee #1 was working in a tree using a chainsaw to cut branches. He was wearing an arborist climbing harness that was tied off to a branch. The branch supporting his harness and weight broke, causing him to…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: TX (5), NY (5), OR (4), OH (4), TN (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| STRATEGIC MATERIALS, INC | MIDLOTHIAN, TX | $85,000 |
| 317737440 - JIM FISHER ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION INC | SHERWOOD, OR | $30,984 |
| ASPLUNDH TREE EXPERT LLC | TULSA, OK | $16,550 |
| CTI FOODS | HUMBOLDT, IA | $14,064 |
| POWDR - COPPER MOUNTAIN LLC | FRISCO, CO | $11,823 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(c)(13), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Fall protection requirements when a rope descent system is used with davit booms (2020-11-10)
- NATE Response FINAL (2017-08-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.140(c) General requirements 196 citations
- 1910.140(c)(18) 65 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)(10) 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
How strong must a fall arrest anchor be?
At least 5,000 pounds for each employee attached, or part of a qualified-person system with a safety factor of at least two.
Does this apply to window cleaning belt anchors?
No. Window cleaners' belt anchors are covered by paragraph (e).
Who oversees engineered anchor systems?
A qualified person.
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.