1926.106: Working Over or Near Water
Employers must give employees working over or near water, where drowning is a danger, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests, inspected before and after each use. Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be readily available no more than 200 feet apart, and at least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available.
Key takeaways
- 1926.106 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart E).
- OSHA cited it 55 times in the last 3 years, in 37 inspections, with $683,979 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: FL (11), TX (10), NJ (7).
- Most-cited part: 1926.106(a) (27 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.106, "Working over or near water", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart E). It has 4 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1926.106 (4 paragraphs)
(a) Employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists, shall be provided with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or buoyant work vests. Open (a) 27 citations
(b) Prior to and after each use, the buoyant work vests or life preservers shall be inspected for defects which would alter their strength or buoyancy. Defective units shall not be used. 2 citations
(c) Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line shall be provided and readily available for emergency rescue operations. Distance between ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet. Open (c) 15 citations
(d) At least one lifesaving skiff shall be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water. Open (d) 11 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 37 inspections cited 1926.106 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.106.
At approximately 8:05 a.m. on September 23, 2024, an employee was guiding a hoseand pump into a wastewater tank. While performing this task, the employee lost his grip and fell backward into a 4-foot by 8-foot hole on top of the wastewater"head works," created by…
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 | 4 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 18 |
Top states: FL (11), TX (10), NJ (7), NC (4), OR (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SEMINOLE EQUIPMENT, INC. | RICHMOND HILL, GA | $331,028 |
| D.S. EAKINS CONST. CORP. | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $38,715 |
| ALASKA DIRECTIONAL, LLC | PALMER, AK | $33,100 |
| GRANGAARD CONSTRUCTION, INC | MENNO, SD | $30,738 |
| CROSS PLUS CONSTRUCTION, LLC | HEMPSTEAD, TX | $26,920 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.106.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.106(a) 27 citations
- 1926.106(c) 15 citations
- 1926.106(d) 11 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What flotation is required near water?
U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests.
How far apart can ring buoys be?
Distance between ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet, and each needs at least 90 feet of line.
Is a rescue boat required?
Yes. At least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.106 (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.