1926.502(d)(16)(iii): 6-Foot Free Fall, No Contact With a Lower Level
A personal fall arrest system must be rigged so the worker cannot free fall more than 6 feet or hit any lower level.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii)
(iii) be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;
277 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
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Injuries linked to this rule
8 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.502(d)(16)(iii), including 8 deaths.
At approximately 10:54 a.m. on November 6, 2024, three employees were working onthe roof of a metal wind tunnel about 23 feet above the ground and 19 feet abovethe tunnel floor, using a welder and a Genie Z80/60 aerial lift to remove sections. While cutting…
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 | 21 |
| 2024 | 98 |
| 2025 | 101 |
| 2026 | 57 |
Top states: OR (45), VA (28), IL (19), TN (19), MD (15)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEARY BUILDING CORPORATION | FARGO, ND | $80,655 |
| 69070 - BONE DRY ROOFING INC | WILLIAMSTOWN, KY | $70,000 |
| 317741700 - TORO'S GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LLC | HAPPY VALLEY, OR | $63,234 |
| 317741414 - BUILDING ENVELOPE SYSTEM TECHS LLC | EUGENE, OR | $39,696 |
| TACTICAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC | ENFIELD, CT | $29,790 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- Criteria and protocols for determining whether peronal fall arrest systems comply with OSHA standards (2012-09-12)
- Whether a manufacturer-stipulated minimum anchor point elevation of 18 feet precludes the use of a shock absorbing lanyard in an aerial lift. (2009-01-14)
- Whether it is permissible to anchor a fall arrest system at an employee's feet. (2007-09-21)
- Fall protection requirements for fixed and portable ladders in construction. (2000-01-13)
- Criteria for personal fall arrest systems. (1995-02-09)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(d) Personal fall arrest systems 2,011 citations
- 1926.502(d)(17) 560 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15) 507 citations
- 1926.502(d)(16) 326 citations
- 1926.502(d)(21) 136 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6) 128 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6)(i) 111 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15)(ii) 55 citations
- 1926.502(d)(11) 44 citations
- 1926.502(d)(8) 17 citations
- 1926.502(d)(1) 17 citations
- 1926.502(d)(9) 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.