1926.501(b)(2)(ii): Other Workers Near a Leading Edge
Workers on a surface 6 feet or more up where leading edges are being built, but who are not doing that work, must be protected by a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system. If a controlled access zone is set up, its control line can replace the guardrail along the edge parallel to the leading edge.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(2)(ii) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 33 times in the last 3 years, in 33 inspections, with $110,612 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (5), NJ (3), GA (3).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(2)(ii) 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
(ii) Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level where leading edges are under construction, but who is not engaged in the leading edge work, shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. If a guardrail system is chosen to provide the fall protection, and a controlled access zone has already been established for leading edge work, the control line may be used in lieu of a guardrail along the edge that parallels the leading edge. 33 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 33 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(2)(ii) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(2)(ii).
At 9:30 a.m. on February 12, 2025, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were working as electrical installers for a building equipment contractor installing solar panels on a commercial building roof. Employee #1 was walking on the roof when he stepped on a skylight and fell…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: TX (5), NJ (3), GA (3), PR (3), PA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| POLLARD CONSTRUCTION | JUNEAU, AK | $26,616 |
| METROPOLIS ROOFING INC. | DENVER, CO | $6,452 |
| CONTRACTING SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED | PEABODY, MA | $5,469 |
| MARTIN SANCHEZ | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,358 |
| EDYS REMODELING CONSTRUCTION | OLATHE, KS | $4,965 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(2)(ii).
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)(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
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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.