1926.453(b)(2)(v): Tying off in an aerial lift
Workers in an aerial lift basket must wear a body belt or harness with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket. Since January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system, though a body belt may still be used in a tethering or restraint system under 1926.502(e).
Key takeaways
- 1926.453(b)(2)(v) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 1,608 times in the last 3 years, in 1,607 inspections, with $5,589,685 in current penalties.
- 5 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (217), FL (132), NJ (98).
- Related part: 1926.453(b)(2) Extensible and articulating boom platforms (1,879 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2)(v) is one requirement inside 1926.453 Aerial lifts, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart L). 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
(v) A body belt shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift. 1,608 citations
As of January 1, 1998, subpart M of this part (§ 1926.502(d)) provides that body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. The use of a body belt in a tethering system or in a restraint system is acceptable and is regulated under § 1926.502(e).
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.453.
Injuries linked to this rule
5 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.453(b)(2)(v).
At 9:30 a.m. on December 28, 2024, Employee #1 was transporting material to the third floor of a hotel using a Genie S-85 aerial lift (Serial Number S8514-11869). While attempting to unpin the man basket after it became pinned against the side of the building,…
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 | 145 |
| 2024 | 596 |
| 2025 | 575 |
| 2026 | 292 |
Top states: TX (217), FL (132), NJ (98), IL (91), VA (90)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | FOREST, VA | $142,691 |
| THOMAS BUILDERS OF VIRGINIA, INC. | ROANOKE, VA | $130,000 |
| LOREDO CONSTRUCTION LLC | ROANOKE, VA | $75,000 |
| SCHMIDT STEEL, INC. | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $34,755 |
| JOZEF KOSICKY | JACKSON, NJ | $32,265 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.453(b)(2)(v), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification on the use of safety monitors as a method of fall protection on a low-slope roof. (2012-04-20)
- Fall protection on aerial lifts during construction activities. (2011-08-22)
- Whether OSHA standards require employees to be tied off while working over water on an aerial lift. (2010-03-20)
- Whether a manufacturer-stipulated minimum anchor point elevation of 18 feet precludes the use of a shock absorbing lanyard in an aerial lift. (2009-01-14)
- Permissibility of attaching welding leads to an occupied aerial lift bucket and using an external lifeline to anchor fall arrest equipment. (2004-02-23)
- Compliance of an aerial lift fall protection device connected with a releasable tether and a non-releasable tether. (2004-02-02)
- Standards applicable to aerial lifts; acceptable uses of body belts as restraint systems and positioning devices. (2001-05-11)
- Use of aerial lifts to transport workers to elevated workstations; scissor lifts are not covered by the aerial lift provisions. (2001-05-03)
- Fall protection for various lift-devices; restraint, positioning, fall arrest and rescue requirements; maintenance vs. construction examples. (2000-08-14)
- Fall protection, training, inspection and design requirements of aerial lifts and scissor lifts/scaffolds. (2000-02-23)
- Anchoring of fall arrest system to aerial lifts; fall arrest vs. restraint systems. (1999-02-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.453(b)(2) Extensible and articulating boom platforms 1,879 citations
- 1926.453(b) Specific requirements 1,879 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(iv) 212 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(ii) 27 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(viii) 12 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(vi) 9 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(i) 4 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(ix) 3 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(vii) 3 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(iii) 1 citations
- 1926.453(b)(2)(xii)
- 1926.453(b)(2)(xi)
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Is a body belt OK in a boom lift?
Not for fall arrest. Since January 1, 1998 body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system; they may be used in a restraint or tethering system.
Where does the lanyard attach?
To the boom or basket, never to an adjacent pole, structure or equipment.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.453 (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.