1926.501(c)(3): Barricade the Fall Zone
Another option is to barricade the area where objects could fall, keep workers out of it, and keep materials far enough back from the upper edge that they cannot go over if knocked. Hard hats are still required.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.501(c)(3)
(3) Barricade the area to which objects could fall, prohibit employees from entering the barricaded area, and keep objects that may fall far enough away from the edge of a higher level so that those objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced.
14 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.501.
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Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Top states: VA (6), MA (3), TX (1), CT (1), PA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CARSON CONCRETE CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $14,750 |
| DOBCO, INC. | DOVER AFB, DE | $8,511 |
| SUNSETS WEST INC. | EL PASO, TX | $6,347 |
| PRISM RESPONSE LLC | WALTHAM, MA | $4,000 |
| OVIDIO ALEXANDER | FLORISSANT, MO | $3,547 |
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.501(c)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.501(c) Protection from falling objects 84 citations
- 1926.501(c)(1) 22 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.