1926.105: Safety Nets
Employers must provide safety nets when work is more than 25 feet above the ground, water or other surfaces where ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines or safety belts are impractical. Nets must be in place and tested before work starts, extend 8 feet past the work edge, hang no more than 25 feet below it, have mesh no larger than 6 inches by 6 inches, and use forged steel hooks or shackles.
Key takeaways
- 1926.105 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart E).
- Most-cited part: 1926.105(a).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.105, "Safety nets", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart E). It has 8 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1926.105 (8 paragraphs)
(a) Safety nets shall be provided when workplaces are more than 25 feet above the ground or water surface, or other surfaces where the use of ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines, or safety belts is impractical. Open (a)
(b) Where safety net protection is required by this part, operations shall not be undertaken until the net is in place and has been tested.
(c)
(1) Nets shall extend 8 feet beyond the edge of the work surface where employees are exposed and shall be installed as close under the work surface as practical but in no case more than 25 feet below such work surface. Nets shall be hung with sufficient clearance to prevent user's contact with the surfaces or structures below. Such clearances shall be determined by impact load testing.
(2) It is intended that only one level of nets be required for bridge construction.
(d) The mesh size of nets shall not exceed 6 inches by 6 inches. All new nets shall meet accepted performance standards of 17,500 foot-pounds minimum impact resistance as determined and certified by the manufacturers, and shall bear a label of proof test. Edge ropes shall provide a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
(e) Forged steel safety hooks or shackles shall be used to fasten the net to its supports.
(f) Connections between net panels shall develop the full strength of the net.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of maintenance vs. construction activities; standards applicable to the removal and replacement of steel tanks and structural steel supports. (2003-11-18)
- Fall protection, lifejacket, and lifesaving requirements when working over or near water. (1999-09-28)
- Steel erection: applicability to metal roof systems and fall protection. (1999-04-27)
- Fall protection for the Elaminator 300 Insulation System. (1998-08-07)
- OSHA's requirements for enclosed hardware used in 'third rail' ladder safety devices for towers. (1997-08-07)
- Fall Protection in Steel Erection. (1995-07-10)
- Requirement for safety nets for steel erection. (1994-08-04)
- Oregon Fall Protection Policy for Residential Construction. (1994-04-21)
- Fall protection during steel erection and the application to the construction industry. (1992-09-18)
- Fall protection for workers engaged in steel erection. (1992-07-24)
- Construction interpretation issues. (1992-07-20)
- Fall hazards over 25 feet. (1992-05-21)
- Policy regarding fall protection for steel erection operations (1992-02-07)
- Fall Protection during Steel Erection (1992-02-07)
- Fall Protection requirements for steel erection activities (1992-02-04)
- Fall Protection for Employees Engaged in Erecting or Dismantling Scaffolds. (1985-09-12)
- Standards applicable during the erection of structual steel. (1985-06-07)
- Interpretation of OSHA Instruction STD 3-3.1. (1984-09-26)
- Hazard of falling in the steel erection industry. (1984-09-13)
- OSHA requires a safety net unless the employer complys with one of the options allowed in 29 CFR 1926.105(a). (1983-05-19)
- Employees exposed to falls of 25 feet or more must be protected by safety nets or some other device. (1981-04-17)
- Standards that do not apply to overhand-bricklaying.; (1981-01-13)
- Tie off of iron workers while performing connector operations is not always required. (1978-10-05)
- Supports required for safety nets. (1977-11-23)
- Flooring requirements for steel erection changed from 25 to 30 feet on June 30, 1974. (1975-07-30)
Most-cited parts of this rule
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Frequently asked questions
When are safety nets required in construction?
When workplaces are more than 25 feet above the ground or water surface, or other surfaces, where ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines or safety belts are impractical.
How far must a safety net extend?
8 feet beyond the edge of the work surface where employees are exposed, installed no more than 25 feet below the work surface.
What is the maximum net mesh size?
6 inches by 6 inches, and edge ropes must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.105 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
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.