1926.501(b)(15): Other Walking/Working Surfaces at 6 Feet
Any walking/working surface 6 feet or more above a lower level that is not covered by another rule still requires a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(15)
(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided in § 1926.500(a)(2) or in § 1926.501 (b)(1) through (b)(14), each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system.
148 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Injuries linked to this rule
3 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(15), including 3 deaths.
At 11:17 a.m. on November 26, 2024, an employee was leveling fresh concrete thathad been pumped into a beam form. While working, the employee fell from a tiled floor. The fall resulted in fatal injuries, and the employee was pronounced dead.
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 | 8 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 54 |
| 2026 | 38 |
Top states: NY (26), MD (16), IN (14), MN (10), VA (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 110987 - COPELAND BUILDING CORPORATION | LONG LAKE, MN | $56,250 |
| WALDOS CONSTRUCTION, INC | DAWSON, ND | $40,000 |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. | FORT MYERS, FL | $16,550 |
| PSG FRAMING LLC | ALPHARETTA, GA | $16,550 |
| REVOLI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC | SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA | $16,550 |
OSHA interpretation letters
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)(11) Steep roofs 1,554 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)(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.