1926.502(d)(8): Horizontal Lifelines
Horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed and used under a qualified person's supervision as part of a complete fall arrest system with a safety factor of at least two.
Key takeaways
- 1926.502(d)(8) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $63,196 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (3), IL (2), PA (1).
- Related part: 1926.502(d) Personal fall arrest systems (1,999 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.502(d)(8) 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
(8) Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system, which maintains a safety factor of at least two. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.502.
Export the list: 17 inspections cited 1926.502(d)(8) 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 1926.502(d)(8).
At 1:00 p.m. on December 10, 2024, Employee #1 was using a torch to heat the steel lid of a tank, intending to cut a hole for installing a level indicator. Flammable gas inside the tank ignited as the torch was applied, causing the tankto…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: NY (3), IL (2), PA (1), MA (1), IN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| H&K GROUP | NORRISTOWN, PA | $10,140 |
| STATE CONTRACTING CORP. OF NY | PORT CHESTER, NY | $9,215 |
| SECURITY-LUEBKE ROOFING, INC. | COMBINED LOCKS, WI | $6,951 |
| DIVISION SEVEN CONTRACTING INC. | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $6,452 |
| EAGLE SANDBLASTING AND PAINTING INC | MONETT, MO | $4,965 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.502(d)(8).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.502(d) Personal fall arrest systems 1,999 citations
- 1926.502(d)(17) 558 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15) 509 citations
- 1926.502(d)(16) 322 citations
- 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) 274 citations
- 1926.502(d)(21) 137 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6) 126 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6)(i) 109 citations
- 1926.502(d)(15)(ii) 57 citations
- 1926.502(d)(11) 44 citations
- 1926.502(d)(1) 17 citations
- 1926.502(d)(6)(ii) 13 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.