1926.501(a): General Duty and Surface Strength
Fall protection required by 1926.501 must meet the criteria in 1926.502. Before work starts, the employer must determine that walking/working surfaces are strong enough to support employees, and allow work only on surfaces that are.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(a)
(a) General.
116 citations(1) This section sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall protection systems. All fall protection required by this section shall conform to the criteria set forth in § 1926.502 of this subpart.
5 citations(2) The employer shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely. Employees shall be allowed to work on those surfaces only when the surfaces have the requisite strength and structural integrity.
Open (a)(2) 110 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Injuries linked to this rule
10 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(a), including 10 deaths.
At 12:00 p.m. on January 28, 2025, four employees were framing a residential building when the structure unexpectedly collapsed. Employee #1 was fatally injured, while Employee #2, Employee #3 and Employee #4 sustained minor injuriesand were treated without hospitalization.
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 | 33 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 36 |
Top states: MA (12), OH (11), FL (11), IL (7), NY (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| REVOLI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC | SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA | $182,064 |
| 69070 - BONE DRY ROOFING INC | WILLIAMSTOWN, KY | $70,000 |
| H&H EXTERIORS INC. | PITTSFIELD, NH | $33,103 |
| 108182 - ANCELMO CONSTRUCTION LLC | ROSE CREEK, MN | $25,000 |
| 108181 - RENNER ROOFING INC | ROSE CREEK, MN | $25,000 |
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(a)(2) 110 citations
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About this page
Official text from the eCFR. Citation and injury numbers from public U.S. Department of Labor enforcement and accident records, copied nightly; 3-year window; data as of 2026-10-18. 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.