1910.22(c): Safe Access and Egress
Employers must provide a safe way to get to and from walking-working surfaces, and make sure each employee uses it.
Key takeaways
- 1910.22(c) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 230 times in the last 3 years, in 230 inspections, with $1,002,745 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (50), OH (18), NY (15).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.22(c) ("Access and egress") is one requirement inside 1910.22 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). 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
(c) Access and egress. The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces. 230 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.22.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.22(c).
At 9:12 a.m. on January 30, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a mechanic at a carcare and detail center. Employee #1 was working in the service pit beneath the oil change station. A customer found Employee #1 unresponsive. Employee #1 died after experiencing a…
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 | 20 |
| 2024 | 84 |
| 2025 | 76 |
| 2026 | 50 |
Top states: MI (50), OH (18), NY (15), WI (13), TX (12)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| STX BEEF COMPANY, LLC | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX | $165,514 |
| APPALACHIAN WOOD FLOORS, INC. | PORTSMOUTH, OH | $28,522 |
| BEXAR CONCRETE WORKS INC. | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $16,550 |
| PACIFIC MANUFACTURING OHIO, INC. | FAIRFIELD, OH | $16,550 |
| BOEING | WICHITA, KS | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.22(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.22(c).
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Frequently asked questions
What must employers provide for walking-working surfaces?
A safe means of access and egress to and from them.
Do employees have to use the safe access?
Yes. The employer must ensure each employee uses it.
Does this include getting off a surface?
Yes. It covers both access and egress.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.22 (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.