1926.501(b)(4)(i): Falling Through Holes and Skylights
Workers must be protected from falling through holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above lower levels by personal fall arrest systems, covers or guardrails around the hole.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(i)
(i) Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.
423 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.501(b)(4)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
Injuries linked to this rule
17 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.501(b)(4)(i), including 17 deaths.
At 10:00 a.m. on February 13, 2025, Employee #1 was pressure washing a roof whenhe fell through a skylight, sustaining fatal injuries.
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 | 37 |
| 2024 | 122 |
| 2025 | 139 |
| 2026 | 125 |
Top states: MI (42), VA (32), IL (32), NY (28), TX (28)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FARGO GLASS & PAINT COMPANY | BISMARCK, ND | $119,170 |
| PRO-TECH ROOFING, INC. | DEERFIELD, IL | $55,878 |
| J & R BUILDING AND REPAIRS, INC. | DES PLAINES, IL | $35,491 |
| DA ROOFING, INC. | TEN SLEEP, WY | $31,252 |
| TITANPRO INC. | BELLEVUE, NE | $21,000 |
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether certain skylights meet the cover criteria of 1926 Subpart M. (2007-12-20)
- Duty of a subcontractor to cover floor holes in a Multi-Employer work site. (2004-11-17)
- Clarification if a depression constitutes a hole or unprotected side/edge and associated fall protection requirements. (2004-09-30)
- Fall protection requirements for stairwells and mechanical chase openings surrounded by interior stud walls in residential construction (2003-12-22)
- Fall protection non-conforming guardrail criteria for application of a de minimis policy. (2000-05-12)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(b) 23,489 citations
- 1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction 15,470 citations
- 1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges 2,860 citations
- 1926.501(b)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs 1,827 citations
- 1926.501(b)(11) Steep roofs 1,554 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4) Holes 1,119 citations
- 1926.501(b)(4)(ii) 670 citations
- 1926.501(b)(14) Wall openings 271 citations
- 1926.501(b)(15) Walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed 148 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.501(b)(3) Hoist areas 47 citations
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About this page
Official text from the eCFR. Citation and injury numbers from public U.S. Department of Labor enforcement and accident records, copied nightly; 3-year window; data as of 2026-10-18. 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.