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.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(2)(ii)
(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 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Injuries linked to this rule
1 injury case in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(2)(ii), including 1 death.
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 |
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)(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed 148 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 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.