1926.502(d)(11): Protect Lifelines From Cuts
Lifelines must be protected so they are not cut or abraded.
Official text: 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(11)
(11) Lifelines shall be protected against being cut or abraded.
44 citationsSource: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
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Injuries linked to this rule
4 injury cases in the last 3 years came from inspections where OSHA cited 1926.502(d)(11), including 4 deaths.
At 8:30 a.m. on February 21, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a construction trades helper for a general building contractor and was ensuring that a verticalmullion was level. Employee #1 was attempting to hand a tool to a coworker who was on an aerial…
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 | 2 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: NJ (10), OH (7), NY (4), AL (4), MI (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| HIGHRISE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. | HOBOKEN, NJ | $14,895 |
| TRINITY SOLAR | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $9,218 |
| BSCNJ SERVICES CORP | CARTERET, NJ | $7,500 |
| 317740711 - TORO'S GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LLC | GRESHAM, OR | $6,473 |
| WMT CONSTRUCTION CORP. | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $5,958 |
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.502(d)(11).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(d) Personal fall arrest systems 2,011 citations
- 1926.502(d)(17) 560 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15) 507 citations
- 1926.502(d)(16) 326 citations
- 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) 277 citations
- 1926.502(d)(21) 136 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6) 128 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6)(i) 111 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15)(ii) 55 citations
- 1926.502(d)(8) 17 citations
- 1926.502(d)(1) 17 citations
- 1926.502(d)(9) 14 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.