1926.503(a)(1): Train Everyone Exposed to Falls
The employer must provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards, teaching them to recognize the hazards and follow procedures to minimize them.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.503(a)(1)
(1) The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.
5,123 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.503.
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.503(a)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
Injuries linked to this rule
59 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.503(a)(1), including 59 deaths.
At 9:49 a.m. on February 10, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a roofer and was removing a tarp from a roof. The tarp needed to be cut in order to remove it to begin shingle work. The wind caught the tarp causing Employee #1…
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 | 397 |
| 2024 | 1,961 |
| 2025 | 1,792 |
| 2026 | 973 |
Top states: MD (681), AL (400), TX (394), FL (387), OH (342)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BACILIO RIOS ALMANZA | APPLETON, WI | $127,446 |
| MIGUEL NUNEZ | DOVER, DE | $103,128 |
| UNITED CUSTOM HOMES, LLC | NAPERVILLE, IL | $88,721 |
| BACILIO RIOS | APPLETON, WI | $85,938 |
| WELLINGTON TEIXEIRA | PHOENIXVILLE, PA | $70,976 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- English language proficiency at construction sites. (2010-07-26)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.503(a) Training program 5,491 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2) 368 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(ii) 52 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(iii) 51 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(vii) 5 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(iv) 4 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.