1926.503(a)(1): Train Everyone Exposed to Falls
The employer must provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards, teaching them to recognize the hazards and follow procedures to minimize them.
Key takeaways
- 1926.503(a)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart M).
- OSHA cited it 5,104 times in the last 3 years, in 5,098 inspections, with $11,418,928 in current penalties.
- 59 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (691), FL (393), TX (391).
- Related part: 1926.503(a) Training program (5,467 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.503(a)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.503 Training requirements, 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
(1) The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. 5,104 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.503.
Export the list: 5,098 inspections cited 1926.503(a)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
59 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.503(a)(1).
At 9:49 a.m. on February 10, 2025, Employee #1 was working as a roofer and was removing a tarp from a roof. The tarp needed to be cut in order to remove it to begin shingle work. The wind caught the tarp causing Employee #1…
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 | 262 |
| 2024 | 1,961 |
| 2025 | 1,791 |
| 2026 | 1,090 |
Top states: MD (691), FL (393), TX (391), AL (382), IL (338)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BACILIO RIOS ALMANZA | APPLETON, WI | $127,446 |
| MIGUEL NUNEZ | DOVER, DE | $103,128 |
| UNITED CUSTOM HOMES, LLC | NAPERVILLE, IL | $88,721 |
| BACILIO RIOS | APPLETON, WI | $85,938 |
| WELLINGTON TEIXEIRA | PHOENIXVILLE, PA | $70,976 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.503(a)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.503(a) Training program 5,467 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2) 363 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(ii) 52 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(iii) 50 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(i) 10 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(vii) 5 citations
- 1926.503(a)(2)(iv) 4 citations
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.503 (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.