1910.25(b): General Requirements for Stairways
Employers must provide handrails, stair rails and guardrails per 1910.28, keep at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm) of headroom above treads, and use uniform risers and treads between landings. Landings must be at least stair width and 30 inches (76 cm) deep, door swings may not shrink platforms below set depths, each stair must hold at least five times the normal anticipated live load and never less than 1,000 pounds, and standard stairs are used for routine travel between levels.
Key takeaways
- 1910.25(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 207 times in the last 3 years, in 190 inspections, with $370,189 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (21), WI (20), MI (18).
- Related part: 1910.25(b)(3) (93 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.25(b) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1910.25 Stairways, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). It includes 11 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
(b) General requirements. The employer must ensure: 207 citations
(1) Handrails, stair rail systems, and guardrail systems are provided in accordance with § 1910.28; Open (b)(1) 48 citations
(2) Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction is at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm), as measured from the leading edge of the tread. Spiral stairs must meet the vertical clearance requirements in paragraph (d)(3) of this section. Open (b)(2) 12 citations
(3) Stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings; Open (b)(3) 93 citations
(4) Stairway landings and platforms are at least the width of the stair and at least 30 inches (76 cm) in depth, as measured in the direction of travel; Open (b)(4) 11 citations
(5) When a door or a gate opens directly on a stairway, a platform is provided, and the swing of the door or gate does not reduce the platform's effective usable depth to: Open (b)(5) 15 citations
(i) Less than 20 inches (51 cm) for platforms installed before January 17, 2017; and Open (b)(5)(i) 12 citations
(ii) Less than 22 inches (56 cm) for platforms installed on or after January 17, 2017 (see Figure D-7 of this section); 3 citations
(6) Each stair can support at least five times the normal anticipated live load, but never less than a concentrated load of 1,000 pounds (454 kg) applied at any point; 4 citations
(7) Standard stairs are used to provide access from one walking-working surface to another when operations necessitate regular and routine travel between levels, including access to operating platforms for equipment. Winding stairways may be used on tanks and similar round structures when the diameter of the tank or structure is at least 5 feet (1.5 m). Open (b)(7) 19 citations
(8) Spiral, ship, or alternating tread-type stairs are used only when the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible to provide standard stairs. 5 citations
(9) When paragraph (b)(8) of this section allows the use of spiral, ship, or alternating tread-type stairs, they are installed, used, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.25.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.25(b).
On November 19, 2024, an employee working for a specialty mulch manufacturer wascleaning and performing maintenance along with three coworkers. The crew was working on a catwalk on the roof of the plant. The employee stepped off of the catwalk and fell through a skylight…
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 | 10 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2025 | 83 |
| 2026 | 48 |
Top states: NY (21), WI (20), MI (18), MN (16), OR (15)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC. | WINESBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| GABRIEL CARE, INC. | FALL RIVER, MA | $16,550 |
| CONCRETE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | CUMMING, IA | $12,768 |
| IMPACT CONFECTIONS, INC. | JANESVILLE, WI | $12,413 |
| PRECISION CONCEPTS INTERNATIONAL | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $11,350 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.25(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.25(b).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.25(b)(3) 93 citations
- 1910.25(b)(1) 48 citations
- 1910.25(b)(7) 19 citations
- 1910.25(b)(5) 15 citations
- 1910.25(b)(2) 12 citations
- 1910.25(b)(5)(i) 12 citations
- 1910.25(b)(4) 11 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How much headroom is required over stairs?
At least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm), measured from the leading edge of the tread.
How strong must stairs be?
Each stair can support at least five times the normal anticipated live load, but never less than a concentrated load of 1,000 pounds (454 kg) applied at any point.
When can ship or spiral stairs be used?
Only when the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible to provide standard stairs.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.25 (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.