1910.28(b)(11): Stairway Fall Protection and Rails
Employers must protect employees exposed to an unprotected side or edge of a stairway landing 4 feet or more above a lower level with a guardrail or stair rail system. Each flight of stairs with at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers must have stair rail systems and handrails, and ship stairs and alternating tread stairs need handrails on both sides.
Key takeaways
- 1910.28(b)(11) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 407 times in the last 3 years, in 397 inspections, with $566,258 in current penalties.
- 6 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (55), OR (38), MI (26).
- Related part: 1910.28(b) Protection from fall hazards (3,551 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11) ("Stairways") 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
(11) Stairways. The employer must ensure: 407 citations
(i) Each employee exposed to an unprotected side or edge of a stairway landing that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected by a guardrail or stair rail system; Open (b)(11)(i) 40 citations
(ii) Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers is equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as follows: Open (b)(11)(ii) 351 citations
(iii) Each ship stairs and alternating tread type stairs is equipped with handrails on both sides. Open (b)(11)(iii) 12 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.28.
Injuries linked to this rule
6 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.28(b)(11).
At 9:20 a.m. on July 6, 2024, an employee working as a janitor for a restaurant was working alone retrieving trash bags. The employee walked into the storage room, which was located along the north wall of the kitchen. The storage room contained a hatch…
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 | 29 |
| 2024 | 156 |
| 2025 | 126 |
| 2026 | 96 |
Top states: MN (55), OR (38), MI (26), TN (21), NY (20)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC. | WINESBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| W.H.B. CATTLE, LP | TUTTLE, OK | $14,000 |
| HARRIS FABRICATION, INC. | TOPEKA, KS | $10,889 |
| LYMAN-RICHEY CORPORATION-READY MIXED CONCRETE | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $10,046 |
| CRUDECHEM TECHNOLOGY | MIDLAND, TX | $9,931 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.28(b)(11), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Interim Enforcement Guidance for Handrail and Stair Rail System Requirements under 1910.28(b) and 1910.29(f) (2026-02-26)
- Stairway Width (2024-10-17)
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)(1)(i) 1,933 citations
- 1910.28(b)(3) Holes 667 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
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Frequently asked questions
When does a stairway landing need a guardrail?
When an unprotected side or edge of a landing is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level.
Which flights of stairs need stair rails and handrails?
Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers.
What about ship stairs?
Ship stairs and alternating tread type stairs must have handrails on both sides.
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.