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29 CFR 1926 · Construction · Subpart M

1926.501(b)(7)(i): Hidden Excavation Edges

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of October 15, 2026 Data updated November 7, 2026 3 min read

At 6 feet or more above a lower level, use a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system
The 6-foot rule and the three fall protection systems. Not to scale; the official text controls.
In plain words:

Workers at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or deeper must be protected by guardrails, fences or barricades when plant growth or another visual barrier makes the excavation hard to see.

Key takeaways

  • 1926.501(b)(7)(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
  • OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $24,400 in current penalties.
  • Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.

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4citations, 3 years
$24,400current penalties
4inspections
0linked injury cases
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Where and how often it was cited
  4. Free toolbox talk
  5. OSHA interpretation letters
  6. Related parts of this rule
  7. Get your crew competent
  8. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7)(i) 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

(i) Each employee at the edge of an excavation 6 feet (1.8 m) or more in depth shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, or barricades when the excavations are not readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barrier; 4 citations

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.

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Where and how often it was cited

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OSHA interpretation letters

None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(7)(i).

Related parts of this rule

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About this page

Sources

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.

Written and reviewed by

Black Belt Safety Editorial Team

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Written and reviewed by the Black Belt Safety team. Every post is checked against the OSHA standard or agency source it cites.

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Black Belt Safety is an independent training provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor. Certificates record completion of training; employers remain responsible for site-specific training and for designating competent persons.

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