1926.501(b)(14): Wall Openings
Workers at wall openings where the outside bottom edge is 6 feet or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge is less than 39 inches above the floor must be protected by a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(14) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 271 times in the last 3 years, in 271 inspections, with $990,589 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (38), VA (31), TN (22).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(14) ("Wall openings") 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
(14) Wall openings. Each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/working surface, shall be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system. 271 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 271 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(14) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(14).
At 12:34 p.m. on July 30, 2024, an employee working for an industrial building contractor was working in a warehouse. The employee died when he fell due to unspecified reasons approximately two floors.
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 | 17 |
| 2024 | 94 |
| 2025 | 92 |
| 2026 | 68 |
Top states: MI (38), VA (31), TN (22), MN (18), MD (15)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $153,740 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $142,691 |
| 110785 - LUMBER ONE AVON INC | HUTCHINSON, MN | $33,000 |
| JAMES R VANNOY & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. | FLOYD, VA | $21,465 |
| FOUNDATION BUILDING MATERIALS, LLC | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $16,550 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(14).
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)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs 1,828 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)(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.