1926.501(b)(4)(ii): Tripping Into Holes
Workers must be protected from tripping in, stepping into or stepping through holes, including skylights, by covers. Unlike the fall rule above it, this has no height trigger.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(ii)
(ii) Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers.
670 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Injuries linked to this rule
7 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(4)(ii), including 7 deaths.
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…
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 | 57 |
| 2024 | 223 |
| 2025 | 245 |
| 2026 | 145 |
Top states: MI (248), VA (86), MD (57), NY (34), TN (28)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| JAMES R VANNOY & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $34,025 |
| PRINCE CONTRACTING, LLC | SAVANNAH, GA | $16,550 |
| CARRANZA ROOFING & REMODELING INC | RICHBORO, PA | $16,550 |
| LMROOFING LLC | TROUTVILLE, VA | $15,875 |
| U.S.A. TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | POINT COMFORT, TX | $15,625 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- Duty of a subcontractor to cover floor holes in a Multi-Employer work site. (2004-11-17)
- Clarification if a depression constitutes a hole or unprotected side/edge and associated fall protection requirements. (2004-09-30)
- Fall protection requirements for stairwells and mechanical chase openings surrounded by interior stud walls in residential construction (2003-12-22)
- Fall protection non-conforming guardrail criteria for application of a de minimis policy. (2000-05-12)
- Clarification of fall protection requirements for open holes on a construction site. (1998-11-17)
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)(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
- 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.