1926.501(b)(11): Steep Roofs
Workers on steep roofs with edges 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by guardrails with toeboards, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11)
(11) Steep roofs. Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toeboards, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
1,554 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Injuries linked to this rule
6 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(11), including 6 deaths.
At approximately 7:50 a.m. on August 9, 2024, two employees were engaged in roofing demolition on a pole barn. The roof measured 30 feet wide by 52 feet long, with a pitch of 5:12 and an elevation of 11 feet at the eave and 15…
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 | 126 |
| 2024 | 598 |
| 2025 | 568 |
| 2026 | 262 |
Top states: MD (365), NY (120), MN (102), VA (72), GA (71)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LUIS ALBERTO-REYNA AVILA, AKA LUIS REYNA AVILA | SCRANTON, PA | $165,514 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | ROANOKE, VA | $153,740 |
| ALWAYS UP ROOFING, INC. | BROOKLYN, OH | $145,652 |
| RENPRO LLC | CONSTANTIA, NY | $115,860 |
| SEGUNDO CAGUANA | SYRACUSE, NY | $106,476 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- The construction fall protection standard specifies fall arrest system requirements, but no footwear requirements. (2004-05-28)
- Compliance of using warning lines and/or control access zones for fall protection on roofs with a slope greater than 4:12. (2003-09-26)
- The impact on the roofing industry of the OSHA's newly revised fall protection standard. (1995-05-08)
- The impact on the roofing industry from OSHA's fall protection standard. (1995-03-30)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(b) 23,489 citations
- 1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction 15,470 citations
- 1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 2,860 citations
- 1926.501(b)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs 1,827 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4) Holes 1,119 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(ii) 670 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(i) 423 citations
- 1926.501(b)(14) Wall openings 271 citations
- 1926.501(b)(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed 148 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.501(b)(3) Hoist areas 47 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.