1926.501(b)(15): Other Walking/Working Surfaces at 6 Feet
Any walking/working surface 6 feet or more above a lower level that is not covered by another rule still requires a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(15) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 151 times in the last 3 years, in 151 inspections, with $544,007 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (27), MD (16), IN (14).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(15) ("Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed") is one requirement inside 1926.501 Duty to have fall protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart M). 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
(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided in § 1926.500(a)(2) or in § 1926.501 (b)(1) through (b)(14), each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. 151 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 151 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(15) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(15).
At 11:17 a.m. on November 26, 2024, an employee was leveling fresh concrete thathad been pumped into a beam form. While working, the employee fell from a tiled floor. The fall resulted in fatal injuries, and the employee was pronounced dead.
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 | 5 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 54 |
| 2026 | 44 |
Top states: NY (27), MD (16), IN (14), MN (11), NJ (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WALDOS CONSTRUCTION, INC | DAWSON, ND | $40,000 |
| 110987 - COPELAND BUILDING CORPORATION | LONG LAKE, MN | $33,750 |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. | FORT MYERS, FL | $16,550 |
| PSG FRAMING LLC | ALPHARETTA, GA | $16,550 |
| REVOLI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC | SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA | $16,550 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(15).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(b) 23,401 citations
- 1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction 15,404 citations
- 1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 2,850 citations
- 1926.501(b)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs 1,828 citations
- 1926.501(b)(11) Steep roofs 1,551 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4) Holes 1,110 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(ii) 666 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(i) 418 citations
- 1926.501(b)(14) Wall openings 271 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.501(b)(3) Hoist areas 43 citations
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.501 (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 2026-11-07
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.