1910.140(c)(21): Prompt Rescue After a Fall
Employers must provide for prompt rescue of each worker in the event of a fall.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(c)(21) 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 $21,960 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)(21) 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
(21) The employer must provide for prompt rescue of each employee in the event of a fall. 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)(21).
At 2:30 p.m. on October 12, 2024, an employee working as a communication equipment operator for a telecom company was performing maintenance on the communications network. The employee fell between 20 and 25 feet from the bucketof the truck impacting the concrete and green space…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(c)(21), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.140(c)(21).
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)(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
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Frequently asked questions
Does the employer need a rescue plan for falls?
Yes. The employer must provide for prompt rescue of each employee in the event of a fall.
Who does this cover?
Each employee.
What does prompt mean?
The rule says prompt, so rescue must be ready to happen quickly, not left to chance.
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.