1910.140(c)(11): Horizontal Lifeline Requirements
Employers must make sure each horizontal lifeline is designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person and is part of a complete personal fall arrest system with a safety factor of at least two.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(c)(11) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $66,604 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (2), IA (2), CO (1).
- Related part: 1910.140(c) General requirements (196 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.140(c)(11) is one requirement inside 1910.140 Personal fall protection systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 2 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
(11) The employer must ensure that each horizontal lifeline: 10 citations
(i) Is designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person; and 7 citations
(ii) Is part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two. 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.140.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: NJ (2), IA (2), CO (1), WI (1), WV (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DANA CONTAINER, INC. | PAULSBORO, NJ | $28,000 |
| CTI FOODS | HUMBOLDT, IA | $14,064 |
| SANIMAX LLC | GREEN BAY, WI | $10,547 |
| THE PUBLIC RESTROOM COMPANY | MINDEN, NV | $5,793 |
| 68394 - SUMMIT WELDING - FABRICATING INC | VILLA HILLS, KY | $4,200 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(c)(11), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.140(c)(11).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.140(c) General requirements 196 citations
- 1910.140(c)(18) 65 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13) 49 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13)(i) 27 citations
- 1910.140(c)(13)(ii) 22 citations
- 1910.140(c)(20) 15 citations
- 1910.140(c)(10) 10 citations
- 1910.140(c)(21) 8 citations
- 1910.140(c)(17) 8 citations
- 1910.140(c)(12) 7 citations
- 1910.140(c)(10)(i) 5 citations
- 1910.140(c)(19) 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who supervises horizontal lifelines?
A qualified person must supervise design, installation and use.
What safety factor is required?
At least two.
Can a horizontal lifeline stand alone?
No. It must be part of a complete personal fall arrest system.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.140 (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.