1910.28(b)(6): Fall Protection Over Dangerous Equipment
Employers must protect employees less than 4 feet above dangerous equipment from falling into or onto it with a guardrail or travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard. Employees 4 feet or more above dangerous equipment must be protected by guardrails, safety nets, travel restraint or personal fall arrest systems.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(6) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 123 times in the last 3 years, in 119 inspections, with $1,040,958 in current penalties.
- 8 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (17), WI (14), PA (9).
- 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)(6) ("Dangerous equipment") 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
(6) Dangerous equipment. The employer must ensure: 123 citations
(i) Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard. Open (b)(6)(i) 106 citations
(ii) Each employee 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above dangerous equipment must be protected from falling by: Open (b)(6)(ii) 17 citations
(A) Guardrail systems;
(B) Safety net systems;
(C) Travel restraint systems; or
(D) Personal fall arrest systems.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.28.
Injuries linked to this rule
8 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.28(b)(6).
At 1:00 p.m. on October 24, 2024, an employee working as a machine operator for a fabricated metal products manufacturer was removing tooling from a large sheave machine. The employee slipped and fell hitting his head on the machine. The employee died from head trauma.
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 | 6 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 43 |
| 2026 | 26 |
Top states: MI (17), WI (14), PA (9), OH (9), IL (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MDLG, INC. | PHENIX CITY, AL | $313,423 |
| ALLIANCE GRAIN COMPANY | GIBSON CITY, IL | $100,000 |
| LEGACY GRAIN COOPERATIVE | DALTON CITY, IL | $79,400 |
| JOHN'S RECYCLING, INC. | FRANKSVILLE, WI | $44,367 |
| HUNT FOREST PRODUCTS, LLC | POLLOCK, LA | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(6), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.28(b)(6).
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)(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
What protection is needed less than 4 feet above dangerous equipment?
A guardrail system or travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.
What about 4 feet or more above dangerous equipment?
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, travel restraint systems or personal fall arrest systems.
Can covering the equipment replace fall protection?
Below 4 feet, yes, if the cover or guard eliminates the hazard.
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.