1926.1425(e)(2): Who Can Be in the Fall Zone
Only workers essential to the operation may be in the fall zone, and never directly under the load. A worker is essential if guiding the load, closely monitoring and directing its movement, or attaching or detaching it, and the employer can show doing so from outside the fall zone is infeasible; boom free fall and load line free fall are prohibited as described.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1425(e)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC).
- OSHA cited it 8 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $60,281 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.1425(e) (16 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1425(e)(2) is one requirement inside 1926.1425 Keeping clear of the load, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart CC). 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
(2) Only employees essential to the operation are permitted in the fall zone (but not directly under the load). An employee is essential to the operation if the employee is conducting one of the following operations and the employer can demonstrate it is infeasible for the employee to perform that operation from outside the fall zone: (1) Physically guide the load; (2) closely monitor and give instructions regarding the load's movement; or (3) either detach it from or initially attach it to another component or structure (such as, but not limited to, making an initial connection or installing bracing). 8 citations
Boom free fall is prohibited when an employee is in the fall zone of the boom or load, and load line free fall is prohibited when an employee is directly under the load; see § 1926.1426.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1425.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1425(e)(2).
At 3:00 p.m. on June 6, 2024, an employee working as a construction laborer for a precast concrete manufacturer had positioned his aerial boom lift beside a 5-story precast concrete panel. The employee staged in that location while waiting for instructions to rig the panel…
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1425(e)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1425(e)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1425(e) 16 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who can be in the fall zone?
Only employees essential to the operation, but not directly under the load.
What makes a worker essential?
Guiding the load, monitoring and instructing on its movement, or attaching or detaching it, when it is infeasible to do from outside the fall zone.
Is free fall allowed with workers in the fall zone?
Boom free fall is prohibited when an employee is in the fall zone, and load line free fall when an employee is directly under the load.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1425 (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 2026-10-19
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.