1910.140(c)(17): Remove Fall Protection After a Fall
Employers must remove from service immediately any personal fall protection system or component that has been subjected to impact loading. It may not be used again until a competent person inspects it and determines it is not damaged and is safe for use.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(c)(17) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 8 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $43,180 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- 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)(17) is one requirement inside 1910.140 Personal fall protection systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). 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
(17) A personal fall protection system or its components subjected to impact loading must be removed from service immediately and not used again until a competent person inspects the system or components and determines that it is not damaged and safe for use for employee personal fall protection. 8 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)(17).
At 8:00 a.m. on November 10, 2023, a four-man crew from Red Diamond Energy was operating a work over rig to pull pipe out of a well. An employee was responsible for working in the derrick, approximately 55 feet above ground. While working in the…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(c)(17), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.140(c)(17).
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)(10) 10 citations
- 1910.140(c)(21) 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 reuse a harness after a fall?
Not until a competent person inspects it and determines it is not damaged and safe for use.
When must it come out of service?
Immediately after it is subjected to impact loading.
Who decides if it can be used again?
A competent 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.