1926.754(e)(3): Covers for Roof and Floor Openings
In steel erection, covers for roof and floor openings must support, without failure, twice the weight of employees, equipment and materials that may be on them at one time. Covers must be secured against displacement by wind, equipment or employees, and painted high-visibility or marked HOLE or COVER. Installed smoke domes or skylights do not count as covers unless they meet the strength rule.
Key takeaways
- 1926.754(e)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 6 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $23,476 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.754(e) Metal decking (20 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.754(e)(3) ("Covering roof and floor openings") is one requirement inside 1926.754 Structural steel assembly, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart R). It includes 4 sub-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
(3) Covering roof and floor openings. 6 citations
(i) Covers for roof and floor openings shall be capable of supporting, without failure, twice the weight of the employees, equipment and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time. Open (e)(3)(i) 1 citations
(ii) All covers shall be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment or employees. 1 citations
(iii) All covers shall be painted with high-visibility paint or shall be marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide warning of the hazard. Open (e)(3)(iii) 1 citations
(iv) Smoke dome or skylight fixtures that have been installed, are not considered covers for the purpose of this section unless they meet the strength requirements of paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section. Open (e)(3)(iv) 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.754.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.754(e)(3).
At 9:00 a.m. on August 1, 2024, an employee was laying out his fall harness. Theemployee fell through an unmarked skylight onto concrete, suffering massive headand body trauma. The employee was killed.
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.754(e)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether certain skylights meet the cover criteria of 1926 Subpart M. (2007-12-20)
- Compliance of Purlin Glide to OSHA steel erection standards. (2003-01-15)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.754(e) Metal decking 20 citations
- 1926.754(e)(2) Roof and floor holes and openings 7 citations
- 1926.754(e)(2)(ii) 3 citations
- 1926.754(e)(3)(iv) 3 citations
- 1926.754(e)(3)(i) 1 citations
- 1926.754(e)(3)(iii) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How strong must an opening cover be?
Capable of supporting, without failure, twice the weight of the employees, equipment and materials that may be imposed on it at any one time.
How must covers be marked?
Painted with high-visibility paint or marked with the word HOLE or COVER.
Is a skylight a cover?
Not unless it meets the strength requirement of paragraph (e)(3)(i).
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.754 (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 2026-10-19
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.