1926.501(b)(2): Leading Edges
Workers building a leading edge 6 feet or more above lower levels need guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest, unless the employer proves these are infeasible and uses a fall protection plan. Workers nearby who are not doing the leading edge work also need protection; a control line can stand in for a guardrail along the edge parallel to the leading edge.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 117 times in the last 3 years, in 117 inspections, with $448,977 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (13), NY (7), VA (6).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(2) ("Leading edges") is one requirement inside 1926.501 Duty to have fall protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart M). It includes 2 sub-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
(2) Leading edges. 117 citations
(i) Each employee who is constructing a leading edge 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of § 1926.502. Open (b)(2)(i) 80 citations
There is a presumption that it is feasible and will not create a greater hazard to implement at least one of the above-listed fall protection systems. Accordingly, the employer has the burden of establishing that it is appropriate to implement a fall protection plan which complies with § 1926.502(k) for a particular workplace situation, in lieu of implementing any of those systems.
(ii) Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level where leading edges are under construction, but who is not engaged in the leading edge work, shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. If a guardrail system is chosen to provide the fall protection, and a controlled access zone has already been established for leading edge work, the control line may be used in lieu of a guardrail along the edge that parallels the leading edge. Open (b)(2)(ii) 33 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 117 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(2) 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 1926.501(b)(2).
At 9:30 a.m. on February 12, 2025, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were working as electrical installers for a building equipment contractor installing solar panels on a commercial building roof. Employee #1 was walking on the roof when he stepped on a skylight and fell…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 49 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 26 |
Top states: TX (13), NY (7), VA (6), MS (6), LA (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| XE AVILA CONSTRUCTION LLC | LONG BEACH, MS | $27,308 |
| POLLARD CONSTRUCTION | JUNEAU, AK | $26,616 |
| PATRICK CONSTRUCTION INC | HAYSI, VA | $16,287 |
| JOSE M. AGUILERA | PORTER, TX | $12,776 |
| MARTIN BUILDERS ENTERPRISE, LLC | PHOENIX, NY | $11,916 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(2).
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)(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed 151 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.