1910.30(c): Fall Protection Retraining
Employers must retrain an employee when they have reason to believe the employee lacks the needed understanding and skill about fall hazards and equipment. Situations include workplace changes or new fall protection systems that make prior training obsolete or inadequate, and signs the employee no longer has the knowledge or skill to use equipment or work safely.
Key takeaways
- 1910.30(c) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 26 times in the last 3 years, in 26 inspections, with $94,436 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PA (6), TX (5), NY (3).
- Related part: 1910.30(c)(3) (17 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.30(c) ("Retraining") is one requirement inside 1910.30 Training requirements, 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
(c) Retraining. The employer must retrain an employee when the employer has reason to believe the employee does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. Situations requiring retraining include, but are not limited to, the following: 26 citations
(1) When changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete or inadequate; 1 citations
(2) When changes in the types of fall protection systems or equipment to be used render previous training obsolete or inadequate; or
(3) When inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the employee no longer has the requisite understanding or skill necessary to use equipment or perform the job safely. Open (c)(3) 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.30.
Export the list: 26 inspections cited 1910.30(c) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: PA (6), TX (5), NY (3), OH (2), MA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ZEP, INC. | CHAMBERSBURG, PA | $16,000 |
| GREAT BASIN PETROLEUM SERVICES | COYANOSA, TX | $9,680 |
| EMPLOYER SOLUTIONS STAFFING GROUP | PALMYRA, PA | $9,000 |
| MARC GLASSMAN INC. | BROOK PARK, OH | $8,643 |
| SMARDT CHILLERS, INC. | PLATTSBURGH, NY | $8,276 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.30(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.30(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.30(c)(3) 17 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is retraining required?
When the employer has reason to believe the employee does not have the required understanding and skill.
What workplace changes trigger it?
Changes in the workplace or in types of fall protection systems or equipment that make previous training obsolete or inadequate.
Can poor performance trigger it?
Yes, inadequacies in an employee's knowledge or use of fall protection showing they no longer have the needed skill.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.30 (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 2026-11-06
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.