1926.701(b): Guarding Protruding Rebar
Employers must guard all protruding reinforcing steel that employees could fall onto or into, to eliminate the hazard of impalement.
Key takeaways
- 1926.701(b) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 351 times in the last 3 years, in 351 inspections, with $1,138,838 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (30), PR (30), NY (26).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.701(b) ("Reinforcing steel") is one requirement inside 1926.701 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Q). 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
(b) Reinforcing steel. All protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which employees could fall, shall be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. 351 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.701.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.701(b).
At 10:09 a.m. on December 23, 2024, Employee #1 was performing housekeeping duties on the lower floor of a building when the outside wall and the upper floor collapsed. The employee sustained multiple fractures and life-threatening injuries, resulting in fatality.
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 | 27 |
| 2024 | 117 |
| 2025 | 129 |
| 2026 | 78 |
Top states: VA (30), PR (30), NY (26), MD (21), NJ (20)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 68522 - KY KYTC CAB HWY DISTRICT 2 | CLAY, KY | $35,000 |
| SPARTAN CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MEXICO, LLC | LAS CRUCES, NM | $16,554 |
| DOBCO, INC. | DOVER AFB, DE | $14,895 |
| HIGHRISE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. | HOBOKEN, NJ | $14,895 |
| ACCORD STEEL AND PRECAST ERECTORS, INC. | BOSTON, MA | $14,518 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.701(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Impalement protection from protruding reinforcing steel and 250-pound drop test. (2014-08-26)
- Clarification regarding impalement hazards on construction worksites (2014-03-18)
- Whether non-rebar projections on a construction site must be guarded; whether rebar caps/covers are subject to a minimum size requirement; whether vertical rebar in beam stirrups are subject to §1926.701(b) (2006-04-24)
- Impalement from reinforcing steel protruding horizontally; §1926.701(b) (2006-03-10)
- Requirements for leaving construction equipment and powder-actuated tools unattended on a construction building site; impalement protection from reinforcing steel for masonry workers on a scaffold. (2005-05-11)
- Fall protection requirements for employees working from a "work bridge" in concrete construction work (2002-12-09)
- Protection of impalement hazards: rebar and other hazards. (1999-08-03)
- Reinforcing steel (rebar) assemblies: questions regarding fall protection and training. (1999-03-09)
- Acceptable use of reinforcing steel bent to a horizontal position to eliminate impalement hazards. (1995-03-24)
- Reinforcing steel of any diameter and any length must be guarded. (1994-03-23)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
What rebar must be guarded?
All protruding reinforcing steel onto and into which employees could fall.
What is the purpose of the guard?
To eliminate the hazard of impalement.
Is rebar below work areas covered?
Yes, if employees could fall onto or into it.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.701 (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 2026-10-20
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.