1910.28(b)(1)(i): Fall protection required at 4 feet
Unless another part of 1910.28 says otherwise, the employer must make sure each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge 4 feet or more above a lower level is protected by a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall protection system such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint or positioning.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(1)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 1,933 times in the last 3 years, in 1,930 inspections, with $9,019,306 in current penalties.
- 37 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OR (166), MI (137), IL (108).
- Related part: 1910.28(b) Protection from fall hazards (3,551 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). It includes 3 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
(i) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following: 1,933 citations
(A) Guardrail systems; Open (b)(1)(i)(a) 61 citations
(B) Safety net systems; or
(C) Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems. Open (b)(1)(i)(c) 28 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.28.
Injuries linked to this rule
37 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.28(b)(1)(i).
At 7:00 p.m. on February 24, 2025, Employee #1 entered a grain bin while operating an auger and became caught in the sweep auger. The employee was fatally injured.
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 | 109 |
| 2024 | 698 |
| 2025 | 697 |
| 2026 | 429 |
Top states: OR (166), MI (137), IL (108), MN (97), TX (89)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MDLG, INC. | PHENIX CITY, AL | $313,423 |
| AMERICAN FUMIGATION SERVICES LLC | HONOLULU, HI | $163,859 |
| RESOURCE RECYCLING, INC. | LIMA, OH | $132,411 |
| WARD COVE DOCK GROUP, LLC | KETCHIKAN, AK | $111,797 |
| THE JAMES SKINNER LLC | OMAHA, NE | $105,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(1)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.28(b)(1)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.28(b) Protection from fall hazards 3,551 citations
- 1910.28(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 1,938 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3) Holes 667 citations
- 1910.28(b)(11) Stairways 407 citations
- 1910.28(b)(11)(ii) 351 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(ii) 288 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(i) 238 citations
- 1910.28(b)(13) Work on low-slope roofs 132 citations
- 1910.28(b)(6) Dangerous equipment 123 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3)(iv) 108 citations
- 1910.28(b)(6)(i) 106 citations
- 1910.28(b)(15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed 68 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
Which fall protection systems are allowed?
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall protection systems such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint or positioning systems.
Is 4 feet measured to the floor below?
It is measured from the walking-working surface to the lower level.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.28 (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.