1926.502(b)(3): Guardrail Strength: 200 Pounds
Guardrails must withstand at least 200 pounds of force applied within 2 inches of the top edge, outward or downward, at any point along the top edge.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(3)
(3) Guardrail systems shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge.
58 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
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Injuries linked to this rule
2 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.502(b)(3), including 2 deaths.
At 4:30 p.m. on April 9, 2024, Employee #1, employed by a construction company, was leaning against a guardrail on the 3rd level balcony of an apartment building. The guardrail failed, and the employee fell to the ground. The employee sustained internal injuries, including fractured…
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 | 5 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2026 | 11 |
Top states: UT (8), TN (5), FL (4), OR (4), VA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| KOCH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC | LAS CRUCES, NM | $16,554 |
| HIGHRISE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. | HOBOKEN, NJ | $14,895 |
| P.J. HOERR, INC. | PEORIA, IL | $9,000 |
| PAVILION CONSTRUCTION, LLC | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $8,704 |
| HOGAN & ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION | FILLMORE, UT | $7,000 |
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(b) Guardrail systems 362 citations
- 1926.502(b)(2) 124 citations
- 1926.502(b)(1) 112 citations
- 1926.502(b)(2)(i) 24 citations
- 1926.502(b)(13) 18 citations
- 1926.502(b)(9) 14 citations
- 1926.502(b)(6) 12 citations
- 1926.502(b)(4) 6 citations
- 1926.502(b)(10) 3 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.