1910.140(d)(3): No Body Belts for Fall Arrest
Body belts are prohibited as part of a personal fall arrest system.
Key takeaways
- 1910.140(d)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 20 times in the last 3 years, in 20 inspections, with $66,133 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (3), MA (2), OK (2).
- Related part: 1910.140(d) Personal fall arrest systems (62 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.140(d)(3) ("Body belts") is one requirement inside 1910.140 Personal fall protection systems, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). 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
(3) Body belts. Body belts are prohibited as part of a personal fall arrest system. 20 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 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: TN (3), MA (2), OK (2), MO (2), VA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SUN AUTO TIRE & SERVICE INC. | CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO | $11,585 |
| VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $11,292 |
| WESGLASS INC. | CASPER, WY | $7,813 |
| PSM101 LLC | SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ | $6,620 |
| LOGO BRANDS, INC. | SPRING HILL, TN | $5,400 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.140(d)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.140(d)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.140(d) Personal fall arrest systems 62 citations
- 1910.140(d)(2)(ii) 34 citations
- 1910.140(d)(2) System use criteria 34 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
Can a body belt be used for fall arrest?
No. Body belts are prohibited as part of a personal fall arrest system.
What does this rule cover?
Personal fall arrest systems in general industry.
Does this rule say what to use instead?
This paragraph only prohibits body belts in personal fall arrest systems.
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 2026-10-21
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.