1910.28(b)(3)(ii): Covers or Guardrails for Low Holes
Each employee must be protected from tripping into, stepping into or stepping through any hole that is less than 4 feet above a lower level, by covers or guardrail systems.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(3)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 288 times in the last 3 years, in 288 inspections, with $594,748 in current penalties.
- 5 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NV (32), VA (30), TN (30).
- 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)(3)(ii) is one requirement inside 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). 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
(ii) Each employee is protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems. 288 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.28.
Injuries linked to this rule
5 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.28(b)(3)(ii).
At 8:34 a.m. on February 20, 2025, Employee #1 and coworkers were closing a steel door mounted on a railing system with track wheels. While manually adjusting the door, one of the track wheels came off the rail, causing the door to jackknife. Three employees…
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 | 16 |
| 2024 | 113 |
| 2025 | 98 |
| 2026 | 61 |
Top states: NV (32), VA (30), TN (30), MI (24), MD (19)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC. | WINESBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| MPW INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC. | COVINGTON, VA | $16,285 |
| WESTWAY FEED PRODUCTS LLC | DIMMITT, TX | $14,895 |
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $13,415 |
| INGEVITY CORPORATION | COVINGTON, VA | $12,215 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(3)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.28(b)(3)(ii).
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)(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
- 1910.28(b)(15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed 68 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
Which holes does this cover?
Any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level.
What protection is required?
Covers or guardrail systems.
What hazards does it address?
Tripping into, stepping into or stepping through the hole.
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.