1926.502(i)(3): Secure Hole Covers
Covers must be secured when installed so wind, equipment or workers cannot knock them out of place.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.502(i)(3)
(3) All covers shall be secured when installed so as to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees.
140 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
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Injuries linked to this rule
2 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.502(i)(3), including 2 deaths.
At 11:28 a.m. on June 28, 2024, an employee working as a construction laborer for a commercial building contractor was scraping excess concrete ashes from a floor and making piles of ash. The employee was working from the 4th floor of a multifamily residential building…
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 | 19 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 29 |
Top states: MD (22), MI (18), NY (16), VA (14), NC (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AXON CONSTRUCTION INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $29,790 |
| INTERNATIONAL ASBESTOS REMOVAL INC. | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 |
| MILLER SIERRA CONTRACTORS, INC. | CADDO MILLS, TX | $16,550 |
| NORTHSTAR CONTRACTING GROUP INC. | BROOKLYN, NY | $16,131 |
| 154736 - SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTORS, INC. | DURHAM, NC | $15,625 |
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(i) Covers 324 citations
- 1926.502(i)(4) 146 citations
- 1926.502(i)(2) 36 citations
- 1926.502(i)(1) 2 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.