1926.501(b)(7): Excavation Edges
Workers at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or deeper must be protected by guardrails, fences or barricades when the excavation is hard to see, and at wells, pits and shafts by guardrails, fences, barricades or covers.
Key takeaways
- 1926.501(b)(7) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 25 times in the last 3 years, in 25 inspections, with $115,540 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (5), NV (4), MA (3).
- Related part: 1926.501(b) (23,401 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7) ("Excavations") 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
(7) Excavations. 25 citations
(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; Open (b)(7)(i) 4 citations
(ii) Each employee at the edge of a well, pit, shaft, and similar excavation 6 feet (1.8 m) or more in depth shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, barricades, or covers. Open (b)(7)(ii) 21 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
Export the list: 25 inspections cited 1926.501(b)(7) 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)(7).
At 6:50 p.m. an employee working as a construction laborer for a highway construction contractor went missing from his job and was found in a water pit. The employee died due to drowning after falling into the pit.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: MI (5), NV (4), MA (3), AZ (2), OH (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| PUMPCO, INC. | CHANDLER, TX | $16,550 |
| BRACKNEY, INC. | CLEVES, OH | $11,585 |
| J&R SAND COMPANY, INC. | MEADE, KS | $11,292 |
| NATIONAL GRID USA | SUTTON, MA | $10,000 |
| LUNDA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | FREDERIC, WI | $7,052 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(b)(7).
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) Leading edges 117 citations
- 1926.501(b)(2)(i) 80 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.