1910.28(b)(15): Fall Protection for Other Walking-Working Surfaces
Unless another rule applies, employers must protect each employee on a walking-working surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall protection systems such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint or positioning systems.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(15) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 68 times in the last 3 years, in 68 inspections, with $282,637 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (13), TX (8), UT (5).
- Related part: 1910.28(b) Protection from fall hazards (3,551 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.28(b)(15) ("Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed") is one requirement inside 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). It includes 3 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
(15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided elsewhere in this section or by other subparts of this part, the employer must ensure each employee on a walking-working surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by: 68 citations
(i) Guardrail systems;
(ii) Safety net systems; or
(iii) Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems. 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.28.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.28(b)(15).
At 1:30 p.m. on May 21, 2024, Employee #1 was setting a new route on an indoor climbing wall, which involved installing new holds. While climbing near the top of the wall, the knot securing the end of the climbing rope to a railing failed,causing…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: MN (13), TX (8), UT (5), WI (4), PA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ARKANSAS VALLEY ADVENTURES LLC | IDAHO SPRINGS, CO | $16,550 |
| SPECIALTY BUILDING PRODUCTS | BELLWOOD, PA | $14,518 |
| BEFESA ZINC US INC. | PALMERTON, PA | $12,500 |
| WALMART, INC. | BENTONVILLE, AR | $12,098 |
| MULTISTACK, LLC | SPARTA, WI | $12,098 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(15), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.28(b)(15).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.28(b) Protection from fall hazards 3,551 citations
- 1910.28(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 1,938 citations
- 1910.28(b)(1)(i) 1,933 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3) Holes 667 citations
- 1910.28(b)(11) Stairways 407 citations
- 1910.28(b)(11)(ii) 351 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(ii) 288 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(i) 238 citations
- 1910.28(b)(13) Work on low-slope roofs 132 citations
- 1910.28(b)(6) Dangerous equipment 123 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(iv) 108 citations
- 1910.28(b)(6)(i) 106 citations
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Frequently asked questions
At what height does this rule require fall protection?
4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level.
What fall protection may be used?
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall protection systems such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint or positioning systems.
When does this paragraph apply?
To walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed elsewhere in 1910.28 or other subparts.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.28 (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.