1926.502(a)(2): Fall Protection in Place Before the Work
Employers must provide and install all required fall protection, and meet the other Subpart M requirements, before the employee begins the work that needs it.
Key takeaways
- 1926.502(a)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 90 times in the last 3 years, in 90 inspections, with $287,236 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (43), OH (13), GA (7).
- Related part: 1926.502(a) General (91 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.502(a)(2) is one requirement inside 1926.502 Fall protection systems criteria and practices, 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
(2) Employers shall provide and install all fall protection systems required by this subpart for an employee, and shall comply with all other pertinent requirements of this subpart before that employee begins the work that necessitates the fall protection. 90 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
Export the list: 90 inspections cited 1926.502(a)(2) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Top states: VA (43), OH (13), GA (7), PR (4), TX (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BONILLA CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION | WEST CHESTER, OH | $24,842 |
| SUNPOWER INC. | WESTERVILLE, OH | $16,550 |
| BLATTNER ENERGY, LLC | ENID, OK | $16,550 |
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORP | ALLENTOWN, PA | $16,131 |
| LESTER GUADRON | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $15,375 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.502(a)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(a) General 91 citations
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.502 (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.