1926.451(e)(1): Scaffold Access Over 2 Feet
Employers must provide safe access when scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet above or below a point of access, using ladders, stair towers, ramps, walkways, built-in scaffold access or direct access from another structure. Workers may not climb crossbraces to get on or off a scaffold.
Key takeaways
- 1926.451(e)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 787 times in the last 3 years, in 786 inspections, with $2,622,961 in current penalties.
- 7 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (104), IL (73), FL (72).
- Related part: 1926.451(e) Access (918 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.451(e)(1) 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
(1) When scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet (0.6 m) above or below a point of access, portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers (scaffold stairways/towers), stairway-type ladders (such as ladder stands), ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or direct access from another scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface shall be used. Crossbraces shall not be used as a means of access. 787 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.451.
Injuries linked to this rule
7 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.451(e)(1).
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 | 70 |
| 2024 | 238 |
| 2025 | 293 |
| 2026 | 186 |
Top states: TX (104), IL (73), FL (72), NY (65), NJ (49)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | ROANOKE, VA | $153,742 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $153,740 |
| JOSE CALLE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $82,757 |
| JOSE CALLE | HATBORO, PA | $39,723 |
| ARGEN CONTRACTING, INC. | PAPILLION, NE | $27,804 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.451(e)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Access requirements for cantilevered work platforms; use of unstable objects is prohibited. (2001-07-23)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.451(e) Access 918 citations
- 1926.451(e)(9) 38 citations
- 1926.451(e)(8) 28 citations
- 1926.451(e)(5) 26 citations
- 1926.451(e)(5)(i) 23 citations
- 1926.451(e)(9)(iv) 23 citations
- 1926.451(e)(4) 16 citations
- 1926.451(e)(6) 11 citations
- 1926.451(e)(9)(i) 11 citations
- 1926.451(e)(2) 9 citations
- 1926.451(e)(6)(i) 7 citations
- 1926.451(e)(2)(iii) 4 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
When is scaffold access required?
When the scaffold platform is more than 2 feet above or below a point of access.
Can I climb the crossbraces?
No. Crossbraces shall not be used as a means of access.
What counts as safe access?
Portable, hook-on or attachable ladders, stair towers, stairway-type ladders, ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated access, or direct access from another scaffold, structure or personnel hoist.
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.