1926.501(c): Falling Object Protection
When workers are exposed to falling objects, each must wear a hard hat, and the employer must also use toeboards, screens or guardrails; a canopy with materials kept back from the edge; or a barricaded area that workers stay out of.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(c)
(c) Protection from falling objects. When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the employer shall have each employee wear a hard hat and shall implement one of the following measures:
84 citations(1) Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling from higher levels; or,
Open (c)(1) 22 citations(2) Erect a canopy structure and keep potential fall objects far enough from the edge of the higher level so that those objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced; or,
(3) Barricade the area to which objects could fall, prohibit employees from entering the barricaded area, and keep objects that may fall far enough away from the edge of a higher level so that those objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced.
Open (c)(3) 14 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(c), including 1 death.
At 10:00 p.m. on December 22, 2024, Employee #1 was on the ground level, hoisting down a canvas bag from approximately 180 feet above, containing the last of the equipment for the day. He was later found lying face up on the ground with a…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 41 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Top states: VA (36), MI (9), MA (5), UT (5), KS (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $153,740 |
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORPORATION | EVESHAM, NJ | $70,982 |
| SOFT CONTRACTOR CORP | WALDWICK, NJ | $55,309 |
| GZL CORPORATION | NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ | $16,550 |
| CARSON CONCRETE CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $14,750 |
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(c)(1) 22 citations
- 1926.501(c)(3) 14 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.