1926.20(b)(1): Employer Safety Programs
Construction employers are responsible for starting and keeping up the safety and health programs needed to comply with OSHA's construction standards. This paragraph makes the employer, not the workers, responsible for having those programs in place and maintaining them over time.
Key takeaways
- 1926.20(b)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart C).
- OSHA cited it 1,170 times in the last 3 years, in 1,170 inspections, with $3,737,616 in current penalties.
- 19 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (384), IL (187), OH (112).
- Related part: 1926.20(b) Accident prevention responsibilities (3,845 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.20(b)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.20 General safety and health provisions, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart C). 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
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the employer to initiate and maintain such programs as may be necessary to comply with this part. 1,170 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.20.
Injuries linked to this rule
19 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.20(b)(1).
At 10:30 a.m. on January 25, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a construction laborer for a residential building contractor was attaching purlins to porch rafters. Employee #1 was standing on top of a porch rafter when his feet slipped. Employee #1 fell and hit…
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 | 76 |
| 2024 | 453 |
| 2025 | 399 |
| 2026 | 242 |
Top states: MD (384), IL (187), OH (112), PA (93), NH (71)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BCG CONTRACTOR CORP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $53,232 |
| GRABER & SONS CONSTRUCTION, LLC | SAVOY, IL | $52,021 |
| TIMBERVIEW BUILDERS LLC | URBANA, IL | $42,563 |
| TIMBERVIEW BUILDERS LLC | URBANA, IL | $42,563 |
| MDM & SONS CONSTRUCTION, LLC | PERRYSBURG, OH | $35,491 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.20(b)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
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Related parts of this rule
- 1926.20(b) Accident prevention responsibilities 3,845 citations
- 1926.20(b)(2) 2,606 citations
- 1926.20(b)(4) 57 citations
- 1926.20(b)(3) 12 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for a construction safety program?
The employer is responsible for initiating and maintaining the programs needed to comply with Part 1926.
Does the rule require a specific written format?
This paragraph does not set a format. It requires the employer to have and maintain whatever programs are necessary to comply with the construction standards.
Is it enough to start a program once?
No. The employer must both initiate and maintain the programs, so they must be kept up over time.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.20 (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.