1926.250: General Requirements for Material Storage
Employers must secure stacked materials against sliding, falling or collapse, keep floor loads within posted safe limits, and keep aisles clear and in good repair. The rule also sets storage distances from hoistways, floor openings and exterior walls, requires fall arrest for work on material in silos and hoppers, and sets stacking rules for bags and bricks.
Key takeaways
- 1926.250 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 15 times in the last 3 years, in 14 inspections, with $88,132 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: FL (3), NJ (3), VA (3).
- Most-cited part: 1926.250(a) General (10 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.250, "General requirements for storage", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart H). It has 27 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 1926.250 (27 paragraphs)
(a) General. Open (a) 10 citations
(1) All materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling or collapse. Open (a)(1) 8 citations
(2) 1 citations
(i) The weight of stored materials on floors within buildings and structures shall not exceed maximum safe load limits.
(ii) Employers shall conspicuously post maximum safe load limits of floors within buildings and structures, in pounds per square foot, in all storage areas, except when the storage area is on a floor or slab on grade. Posting is not required for storage areas in all single-family residential structures and wood-framed multi-family residential structures.
(3) Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear to provide for the free and safe movement of material handling equipment or employees. Such areas shall be kept in good repair. 1 citations
(4) When a difference in road or working levels exist, means such as ramps, blocking, or grading shall be used to ensure the safe movement of vehicles between the two levels.
(b) Material storage. Open (b) 4 citations
(1) Material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not extend above the top of the material stored.
(2) Each employee required to work on stored material in silos, hoppers, tanks, and similar storage areas shall be equipped with personal fall arrest equipment meeting the requirements of subpart M of this part.
(3) Noncompatible materials shall be segregated in storage.
(4) Bagged materials shall be stacked by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high.
(5) Materials shall not be stored on scaffolds or runways in excess of supplies needed for immediate operations. Open (b)(5)
(6) Brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height. When a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it shall be tapered back 2 inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level. Open (b)(6)
(7) When masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block per tier above the 6-foot level. Open (b)(7)
(8) Lumber: 3 citations
(i) Used lumber shall have all nails withdrawn before stacking. 1 citations
(ii) Lumber shall be stacked on level and solidly supported sills.
(iii) Lumber shall be so stacked as to be stable and self-supporting. 2 citations
(iv) Lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height provided that lumber to be handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet high.
(9) Structural steel, poles, pipe, bar stock, and other cylindrical materials, unless racked, shall be stacked and blocked so as to prevent spreading or tilting. 1 citations
(c) Housekeeping. Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion, or pest harborage. Vegetation control will be exercised when necessary. 1 citations
(d) Dockboards (bridge plates).
(1) Portable and powered dockboards shall be strong enough to carry the load imposed on them.
(2) Portable dockboards shall be secured in position, either by being anchored or equipped with devices which will prevent their slipping.
(3) Handholds, or other effective means, shall be provided on portable dockboards to permit safe handling.
(4) Positive protection shall be provided to prevent railroad cars from being moved while dockboards or bridge plates are in position.
[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 18295, Apr. 30, 1984; 54 FR 24334, June 7, 1989; 58 FR 35173, June 30, 1993; 59 FR 40729, Aug. 9, 1994; 61 FR 5510, Feb. 13, 1996; 84 FR 21577, May 14, 2019]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 14 inspections cited 1926.250 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.250.
At 11:20 a.m. on March 23, 2024, an employee was adjusting the placement of 12 sheets of drywall weighing 109 pounds each. The stack fell, pinning him against the nearby door jamb. The employee was crushed and killed.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: FL (3), NJ (3), VA (3), TX (2), IA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MK INSTALLATION, LLC | VERONA, VA | $16,285 |
| JP PRO SOLUTIONS | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $16,131 |
| MICHELS POWER, INC. | DIKE, IA | $9,488 |
| HAMPTON ROADS CONNECTOR PARTNERS | NORFOLK, VA | $8,685 |
| FREITAS CONSTRUCTION LLC | STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ | $7,093 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.250.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.250(a) General 10 citations
- 1926.250(a)(1) 8 citations
- 1926.250(b) Material storage 4 citations
- 1926.250(b)(5)
- 1926.250(b)(6)
- 1926.250(b)(7)
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Frequently asked questions
How must tiered materials be stored?
Stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling or collapse.
How close to a hoistway can materials be stored inside a building under construction?
Not within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside floor opening.
How high can brick stacks be?
Brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.250 (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.