1926.501(b)(4): Holes and Skylights
Workers must be protected from falling through holes and skylights more than 6 feet above lower levels with covers, guardrails or personal fall arrest, and holes must be covered to stop workers tripping into them and objects falling through them.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)
(4) Holes.
1,119 citations(i) Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.
Open (b)(4)(i) 423 citations(ii) Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers.
Open (b)(4)(ii) 670 citations(iii) Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from objects falling through holes (including skylights) by covers.
Open (b)(4)(iii) 10 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.501(b)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
Injuries linked to this rule
25 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(4), including 25 deaths.
At 10:00 a.m. on February 13, 2025, Employee #1 was pressure washing a roof whenhe fell through a skylight, sustaining fatal injuries.
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 | 95 |
| 2024 | 353 |
| 2025 | 393 |
| 2026 | 278 |
Top states: MI (292), VA (122), MD (82), NY (63), TX (46)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FARGO GLASS & PAINT COMPANY | BISMARCK, ND | $119,170 |
| PRO-TECH ROOFING, INC. | DEERFIELD, IL | $55,878 |
| J & R BUILDING AND REPAIRS, INC. | DES PLAINES, IL | $35,491 |
| JAMES R VANNOY & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $34,025 |
| DA ROOFING, INC. | TEN SLEEP, WY | $31,252 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether certain skylights meet the cover criteria of 1926 Subpart M. (2007-12-20)
- When protective measures must be installed after a hole is created on a construction worksite. (2006-09-05)
- 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 and controlled access zones for overhand bricklaying (2004-03-10)
- Fall protection requirements for stairwells and mechanical chase openings surrounded by interior stud walls in residential construction (2003-12-22)
- Clarification of the terms "hole" versus "unprotected sides or edges." (2000-08-14)
- 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)
- Hatch Net 120 fall protection system (1994-04-15)
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)(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
- 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.