1910.23(b)(10): Tag and Remove Defective Ladders
Employers must make sure any ladder with structural or other defects is immediately tagged "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or with similar wording, and taken out of service. The ladder stays out of service until it is repaired or replaced.
Key takeaways
- 1910.23(b)(10) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 281 times in the last 3 years, in 281 inspections, with $408,209 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (28), NY (26), MI (20).
- Related part: 1910.23(b) General requirements for all ladders (683 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10) is one requirement inside 1910.23 Ladders, 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
(10) Any ladder with structural or other defects is immediately tagged “Dangerous: Do Not Use” or with similar language in accordance with § 1910.145 and removed from service until repaired in accordance with § 1910.22(d), or replaced; 281 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.23.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.23(b)(10).
At about 10: 30 a.m. on January 30, 2024, Employee #1, a 69-year-old maintenancemechanic with one year and eight months on the job, injured his left shoulder and left knee while working from a five rung step ladder. The ladder suddenly moved while the employee…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 99 |
| 2025 | 108 |
| 2026 | 60 |
Top states: TN (28), NY (26), MI (20), PR (18), CT (15)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| QUECHAN CASINO RESORT | WINTERHAVEN, CA | $27,654 |
| CARABETTA MANAGEMENT CO. | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $14,262 |
| BEST BUY CO, INC STORE #128 | RENO, NV | $12,059 |
| DELTA STAR, INC. DBA DELTA STAR EAST | LYNCHBURG, VA | $11,205 |
| RIO GRANDE REDI MIX | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $10,880 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.23(b)(10), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.23(b)(10).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.23(b) General requirements for all ladders 683 citations
- 1910.23(b)(9) 162 citations
- 1910.23(b)(8) 150 citations
- 1910.23(b)(13) 37 citations
- 1910.23(b)(1) 13 citations
- 1910.23(b)(12) 10 citations
- 1910.23(b)(2) 10 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
What should happen to a damaged ladder?
It must be tagged right away with "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or similar wording and removed from service.
Can a defective ladder be used carefully until it is fixed?
No. It stays out of service until it is repaired or replaced.
Does this apply only to broken rails or steps?
No. It covers any ladder with structural or other defects.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.23 (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.