1926.501(b)(10): Roofing Work on Low-Slope Roofs
Workers doing roofing work on low-slope roofs with edges 6 feet or more above lower levels need guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest, or a warning line combined with one of those or with a safety monitor. On roofs 50 feet wide or less, a safety monitoring system alone is allowed.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(10) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 1,828 times in the last 3 years, in 1,826 inspections, with $7,910,292 in current penalties.
- 16 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (242), IL (134), NY (114).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10) ("Roofing work on Low-slope roofs") is one requirement inside 1926.501 Duty to have fall protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart M). 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
(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see appendix A to subpart M of this part), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted. 1,828 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 1,826 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(10) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
16 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(10).
On February 17, 2025, Employee #1 was working for a metal roofing contractor and manufacturer reportedly mis-stepped on a purlin. Employee #1 fell through the roll insulation onto the floor inside a warehouse building. Employee #1 diedfrom the injuries sustained.
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 | 97 |
| 2024 | 654 |
| 2025 | 642 |
| 2026 | 435 |
Top states: MD (242), IL (134), NY (114), PA (99), FL (93)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ALWAYS UP ROOFING, INC. | BROOKLYN, OH | $124,841 |
| FLEX STAR CERTIFIED ROOFING INSTALLERS INC | PETERSBURG, IL | $124,219 |
| FLEX STAR CERTIFIED ROOFING INSTALLERS INC. | PEORIA, IL | $69,510 |
| MILCON CONSTRUCTION CORP. | NEW WINDSOR, NY | $64,529 |
| LEVEL EDGE CONSTRUCTION, LLC | MOHNTON, PA | $59,580 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.501(b)(10), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(10).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(b) 23,401 citations
- 1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction 15,404 citations
- 1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 2,850 citations
- 1926.501(b)(11) Steep roofs 1,551 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4) Holes 1,110 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(ii) 666 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(i) 418 citations
- 1926.501(b)(14) Wall openings 271 citations
- 1926.501(b)(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed 151 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.501(b)(3) Hoist areas 43 citations
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.501 (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 2026-11-07
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.