1926.701: Concrete and Masonry General Requirements
Employers must not place construction loads on concrete structures unless a person qualified in structural design confirms they can hold them. Protruding rebar that workers could fall onto must be guarded against impalement, access behind post-tensioning jacks is limited, no one may ride concrete buckets or work under them while raised or lowered, and workers applying pneumatic cement mix need head and face protection.
Key takeaways
- 1926.701 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 358 times in the last 3 years, in 357 inspections, with $1,131,476 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (33), NY (28), PR (28).
- Most-cited part: 1926.701(b) Reinforcing steel (355 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.701, "General requirements", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Q). It has 10 numbered paragraphs. 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
Show the full text of 1926.701 (10 paragraphs)
(a) Construction loads. No construction loads shall be placed on a concrete structure or portion of a concrete structure unless the employer determines, based on information received from a person who is qualified in structural design, that the structure or portion of the structure is capable of supporting the loads. 1 citations
(b) Reinforcing steel. All protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which employees could fall, shall be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. Open (b) 355 citations
(c) Post-tensioning operations.
(1) No employee (except those essential to the post-tensioning operations) shall be permitted to be behind the jack during tensioning operations.
(2) Signs and barriers shall be erected to limit employee access to the post-tensioning area during tensioning operations.
(d) Riding concrete buckets. No employee shall be permitted to ride concrete buckets.
(e) Working under loads. Open (e) 2 citations
(1) No employee shall be permitted to work under concrete buckets while buckets are being elevated or lowered into position. 2 citations
(2) To the extent practical, elevated concrete buckets shall be routed so that no employee, or the fewest number of employees, are exposed to the hazards associated with falling concrete buckets. Open (e)(2)
(f) Personal protective equipment. No employee shall be permitted to apply a cement, sand, and water mixture through a pneumatic hose unless the employee is wearing protective head and face equipment.
[53 FR 22643, June 16, 1988, as amended at 59 FR 40730, Aug. 9, 1994]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 357 inspections cited 1926.701 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.701.
At 10:09 a.m. on December 23, 2024, Employee #1 was performing housekeeping duties on the lower floor of a building when the outside wall and the upper floor collapsed. The employee sustained multiple fractures and life-threatening injuries, resulting in fatality.
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 | 20 |
| 2024 | 117 |
| 2025 | 128 |
| 2026 | 93 |
Top states: VA (33), NY (28), PR (28), MD (21), KY (21)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 68522 - KY KYTC CAB HWY DISTRICT 2 | CLAY, KY | $35,000 |
| SPARTAN CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MEXICO, LLC | LAS CRUCES, NM | $16,554 |
| DOBCO, INC. | DOVER AFB, DE | $14,895 |
| HIGHRISE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. | HOBOKEN, NJ | $14,895 |
| ACCORD STEEL AND PRECAST ERECTORS, INC. | BOSTON, MA | $14,518 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.701.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.701(b) Reinforcing steel 355 citations
- 1926.701(e) Working under loads 2 citations
- 1926.701(e)(2)
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Frequently asked questions
Can workers ride concrete buckets?
No. No employee shall be permitted to ride concrete buckets.
What must be done about protruding rebar?
All protruding reinforcing steel onto and into which employees could fall must be guarded to eliminate the impalement hazard.
Who may stand behind a post-tensioning jack?
Only employees essential to the post-tensioning operations.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.701 (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 2026-11-06
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.