1926.502(f)(2): Warning Line Construction
Warning lines must be rope, wire or chain flagged at least every 6 feet, hang no lower than 34 inches and no higher than 39 inches, sit on stanchions that resist a 16-pound push without tipping, and have a tensile strength of at least 500 pounds.
Key takeaways
- 1926.502(f)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 51 times in the last 3 years, in 46 inspections, with $48,811 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PA (13), MI (6), MD (5).
- Related part: 1926.502(f) Warning line systems (206 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.502(f)(2) is one requirement inside 1926.502 Fall protection systems criteria and practices, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart M). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. 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
(2) Warning lines shall consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting stanchions erected as follows: 51 citations
(i) The rope, wire, or chain shall be flagged at not more than 6-foot (1.8 m) intervals with high-visibility material; Open (f)(2)(i) 13 citations
(ii) The rope, wire, or chain shall be rigged and supported in such a way that its lowest point (including sag) is no less than 34 inches (.9 m) from the walking/working surface and its highest point is no more than 39 inches (1.0 m) from the walking/working surface; Open (f)(2)(ii) 31 citations
(iii) After being erected, with the rope, wire, or chain attached, stanchions shall be capable of resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds (71 N) applied horizontally against the stanchion, 30 inches (.8 m) above the walking/working surface, perpendicular to the warning line, and in the direction of the floor, roof, or platform edge;
(iv) The rope, wire, or chain shall have a minimum tensile strength of 500 pounds (2.22 kN), and after being attached to the stanchions, shall be capable of supporting, without breaking, the loads applied to the stanchions as prescribed in paragraph (f)(2)(iii) of this section; and Open (f)(2)(iv) 2 citations
(v) The line shall be attached at each stanchion in such a way that pulling on one section of the line between stanchions will not result in slack being taken up in adjacent sections before the stanchion tips over. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
Export the list: 46 inspections cited 1926.502(f)(2) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: PA (13), MI (6), MD (5), OR (3), IL (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| RFX2023XRS480X0069 - SPRINGBROOK SGC, LLC | TEMPE, AZ | $8,930 |
| COLORADO MOISTURE CONTROL, INC. | DENVER, CO | $5,200 |
| WILSON ROOFING INC | BROOKSVILLE, FL | $4,965 |
| JOHNNY'S GENERAL CONSTRUCTION | EL PASO, TX | $4,702 |
| 317738272 - EVERGREEN ROOFING INC | MEDFORD, OR | $4,611 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.502(f)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(f) Warning line systems 206 citations
- 1926.502(f)(1) 150 citations
- 1926.502(f)(1)(i) 47 citations
- 1926.502(f)(1)(iii) 45 citations
- 1926.502(f)(2)(ii) 31 citations
- 1926.502(f)(2)(i) 13 citations
- 1926.502(f)(2)(iv) 2 citations
- 1926.502(f)(4)
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.502 (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.