1926.451(b)(5)(ii): Limits on Scaffold Platform Overhang
Employers must not let scaffold platforms longer than 10 feet extend more than 18 inches (46 cm) past their support. Longer overhangs are allowed only if the cantilevered part is designed and installed to hold workers without tipping, or guardrails block access to the cantilevered end.
Key takeaways
- 1926.451(b)(5)(ii) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 97 times in the last 3 years, in 97 inspections, with $211,487 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (13), NC (12), MA (11).
- Related part: 1926.451(b) Scaffold platform construction (1,515 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.451(b)(5)(ii) is one requirement inside 1926.451 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart L). 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 platform greater than 10 feet in length shall not extend over its support more than 18 inches (46 cm), unless it is designed and installed so that the cantilevered portion of the platform is able to support employees without tipping, or has guardrails which block employee access to the cantilevered end. 97 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.451.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.451(b)(5)(ii).
Employee was removing a gutter from a residential structure working from a pump-jack scaffold system erected 4.5 feet from a 79 kilovolt primary power line. The gutter contacted the power line and the employee was electrocuted.
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 | 12 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 25 |
Top states: MD (13), NC (12), MA (11), NJ (7), NH (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | FOREST, VA | $12,060 |
| GEO HOME RENOVATIONS INC. | ATHENS, NY | $6,452 |
| MIRANDS CONSTRUCTION, INC. | LYNNFIELD, MA | $6,242 |
| FDR CONSTRUCTION LLC | SPRING LAKE, NJ | $5,958 |
| CHANELL ROOFING & HOME IMPROVEMENT LLC | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,958 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.451(b) Scaffold platform construction 1,515 citations
- 1926.451(b)(1) 867 citations
- 1926.451(b)(2) 332 citations
- 1926.451(b)(1)(i) 168 citations
- 1926.451(b)(5) 118 citations
- 1926.451(b)(3) 58 citations
- 1926.451(b)(7) 51 citations
- 1926.451(b)(4) 49 citations
- 1926.451(b)(10) 25 citations
- 1926.451(b)(5)(i) 21 citations
- 1926.451(b)(1)(ii) 14 citations
- 1926.451(b)(2)(i) 11 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How far can a platform over 10 feet long overhang its support?
No more than 18 inches (46 cm), unless an exception applies.
When may the overhang be longer?
When the cantilevered portion is designed and installed to support employees without tipping, or guardrails block access to the cantilevered end.
Which platforms does this cover?
Each platform greater than 10 feet in length.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.451 (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.