1926.451(c)(1): Restraining Tall Supported Scaffolds
Supported scaffolds with a height to base width ratio of more than four to one must be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, bracing or equivalent means. Ties go per the manufacturer or at the closest horizontal member to the 4:1 height, repeated every 20 feet or less for scaffolds 3 feet wide or less and every 26 feet or less for wider ones, at each end and not over 30 feet apart horizontally.
Key takeaways
- 1926.451(c)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 121 times in the last 3 years, in 117 inspections, with $414,921 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PA (14), VA (14), IL (11).
- Related part: 1926.451(c) Criteria for supported scaffolds (1,292 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.451(c)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.451 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart L). It includes 3 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
(1) Supported scaffolds with a height to base width (including outrigger supports, if used) ratio of more than four to one (4:1) shall be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, bracing, or equivalent means, as follows: 121 citations
(i) Guys, ties, and braces shall be installed at locations where horizontal members support both inner and outer legs. Open (c)(1)(i) 14 citations
(ii) Guys, ties, and braces shall be installed according to the scaffold manufacturer's recommendations or at the closest horizontal member to the 4:1 height and be repeated vertically at locations of horizontal members every 20 feet (6.1 m) or less thereafter for scaffolds 3 feet (0.91 m) wide or less, and every 26 feet (7.9 m) or less thereafter for scaffolds greater than 3 feet (0.91 m) wide. The top guy, tie or brace of completed scaffolds shall be placed no further than the 4:1 height from the top. Such guys, ties and braces shall be installed at each end of the scaffold and at horizontal intervals not to exceed 30 feet (9.1 m) (measured from one end [not both] towards the other). Open (c)(1)(ii) 35 citations
(iii) Ties, guys, braces, or outriggers shall be used to prevent the tipping of supported scaffolds in all circumstances where an eccentric load, such as a cantilevered work platform, is applied or is transmitted to the scaffold. Open (c)(1)(iii) 15 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.451.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.451(c)(1).
At 10:29 a.m. on September 14, 2024, an employee was working from a scaffold when a scaffold plank fell off its supports. The employee fell to the ground andsustained fatal injuries.
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 | 8 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 47 |
| 2026 | 22 |
Top states: PA (14), VA (14), IL (11), MD (10), TN (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CREATIVE MASONRY, INC. | JONESBOROUGH, TN | $54,000 |
| SAFESIDE, INC. | TOLLAND, CT | $20,000 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $15,375 |
| DOBCO, INC. | DOVER AFB, DE | $14,895 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $14,270 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.451(c)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether it is permissible to use a concrete block hanging on a coupling pin as a counterweight to prevent a scaffold from tipping. (2005-06-17)
- Tie-in requirements for supported scaffolds; errors in Non-Mandatory Appendix E. (2005-04-08)
- Height to base width ratio for mobile scaffolds with/without outriggers. (2004-03-10)
- Clarification of requirements for construction scaffold erection/dismantling; safe means of access; blocks for two-point suspension scaffolds. (2002-01-02)
- Tie, guy, and bracing requirements for scaffold systems. (2000-08-04)
- Foundation requirements for scaffolds; competent person qualifications for assessing foundations. (2000-08-01)
- Tying or guying of supported scaffolds. (1998-04-02)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.451(c) Criteria for supported scaffolds 1,292 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2) 1,052 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2)(v) 224 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2)(iv) 186 citations
- 1926.451(c)(3) 119 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2)(i) 110 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2)(ii) 77 citations
- 1926.451(c)(1)(ii) 35 citations
- 1926.451(c)(1)(iii) 15 citations
- 1926.451(c)(1)(i) 14 citations
- 1926.451(c)(2)(iii) 13 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
When must a supported scaffold be tied off?
When its height to base width ratio, including outriggers, is more than four to one.
How often must ties be repeated vertically?
Every 20 feet or less for scaffolds 3 feet wide or less, and every 26 feet or less for scaffolds greater than 3 feet wide.
What about eccentric loads like cantilevered platforms?
Ties, guys, braces or outriggers must be used to prevent tipping in all such cases.
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.