1910.28(b)(2): Fall Protection at Hoist Areas
Employers must protect each employee in a hoist area from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more by a guardrail system, personal fall arrest system or travel restraint system. When guardrails, gates or chains are removed and the employee must lean through or over the edge to hoist, a personal fall arrest system is required.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 66 times in the last 3 years, in 65 inspections, with $299,835 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (13), OR (8), TN (6).
- 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)(2) ("Hoist areas") 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 6 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
(2) Hoist areas. The employer must ensure: 66 citations
(i) Each employee in a hoist area is protected from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level by: Open (b)(2)(i) 56 citations
(A) A guardrail system;
(B) A personal fall arrest system; or
(C) A travel restraint system.
(ii) When any portion of a guardrail system, gate, or chains is removed, and an employee must lean through or over the edge of the access opening to facilitate hoisting, the employee is protected from falling by a personal fall arrest system. Open (b)(2)(ii) 10 citations
(iii) If grab handles are installed at hoist areas, they meet the requirements of § 1910.29(l).
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)(2).
At 2:10 p.m. on December 19, 2024, Employee #1, age 41, was loading barrels of bourbon onto a barrel elevator on the fifth floor of a bourbon rickhouse. Duringthe operation, the elevator cable snapped, causing the barrel lift to fall approximately 34 feet to the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: MI (13), OR (8), TN (6), WI (4), TX (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| VRC COMPANIES, LLC | TAMPA, FL | $40,328 |
| POWDR - COPPER MOUNTAIN LLC | FRISCO, CO | $15,000 |
| OZARKS COCA-COLA/DR PEPPER BOTTLING COMPANY | BOLIVAR, MO | $11,823 |
| CPX2025XJW184X0160 - DURO HILEX POLY, LLC | TOLLESON, AZ | $11,823 |
| 317737975 - SOUTH COAST LUMBER CO | BROOKINGS, OR | $11,528 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.28(b)(2).
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 is fall protection required at hoist areas?
When an employee could fall 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level.
What if the guardrail is removed to hoist materials?
If the employee must lean through or over the edge of the access opening, the employee must be protected by a personal fall arrest system.
Are grab handles allowed?
Yes. If grab handles are installed at hoist areas, they must meet 1910.29(l).
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.