1926.501(b)(3): Hoist Areas
Workers in hoist areas must be protected from falls of 6 feet or more by guardrails or personal fall arrest. If guardrails are removed for hoisting and a worker must lean through or over the edge, that worker needs a personal fall arrest system.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 43 times in the last 3 years, in 43 inspections, with $274,483 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (11), MO (8), MN (5).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3) ("Hoist areas") 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
(3) Hoist areas. Each employee in a hoist area shall be protected from falling 6 feet (1.8 m) or more to lower levels by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems, [or chain, gate, or guardrail] or portions thereof, are removed to facilitate the hoisting operation (e.g., during landing of materials), and an employee must lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening (to receive or guide equipment and materials, for example), that employee shall be protected from fall hazards by a personal fall arrest system. 43 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 43 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(3) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: IL (11), MO (8), MN (5), PA (4), MI (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| L&W SUPPLY CORPORATION | NEWARK, DE | $99,300 |
| LUIS ALBERTO-REYNA AVILA, AKA LUIS REYNA AVILA | SCRANTON, PA | $16,550 |
| 108159 - NORHART CONSTRUCTION LLC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $16,500 |
| NEW ZYLAND CORP | WEST CALDWELL, NJ | $10,646 |
| HOUCK SERVICES, INC. | HARRISBURG, PA | $10,046 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(3).
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.