1910.29 Fall Protection Criteria: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Where 1910.28 says fall protection is needed, this section describes how the systems must be built and used. It sets technical criteria for guardrails, safety nets, designated areas, covers, handrails and stair rails, cages and wells on fixed ladders, ladder safety systems, and toeboards. For example, guardrail top rails must stand about 42 inches high and withstand a 200-pound force, and hole covers must support at least twice the expected load.
What the standard requires
- Build guardrail top rails 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking surface
- Ensure guardrails withstand a 200-pound force without failing
- Use covers strong enough for twice the maximum anticipated load and secure them
- Install handrails and stair rails meeting height and strength criteria
- Provide toeboards or other falling object protection where required
Hazards it addresses
- Falls through inadequate or broken guardrails
- Falls through unsecured hole covers
- Struck-by injuries from objects falling off platforms
Cited where guardrails, mezzanines, and elevated platforms are common, such as warehouses and manufacturing plants.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.29(b)(1) | Top rail height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches | 40 | 40 | $1,107 |
| 1910.29(b)(2) | 36 | 36 | $1,207 | |
| 1910.29(b)(2)(i) | 35 | 35 | $0 | |
| 1910.29(f)(4) | 24 | 24 | $250 | |
| 1910.29(b)(3) | Guardrails capable of withstanding a 200-pound force | 14 | 14 | $300 |
| 1910.29(k)(1) | Protection from falling objects, including toeboards | 14 | 14 | $0 |
| 1910.29(b)(13)(i) | 8 | 8 | $3,462 | |
| 1910.29(b)(13) | 5 | 5 | $3,750 | |
| 1910.29(k)(1)(i) | Protection from falling objects, including toeboards | 5 | 5 | $0 |
| 1910.29(a)(2) | 4 | 4 | $3,542 | |
| 1910.29(b)(2)(iv) | 4 | 4 | $706 | |
| 1910.29(b)(5) | 4 | 4 | $0 | |
| 1910.29(c) | 4 | 4 | $4,216 | |
| 1910.29(e) | Criteria for covers over holes | 4 | 4 | $3,630 |
| 1910.29(e)(2) | Criteria for covers over holes | 3 | 3 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 230 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $616,953 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $472,462, 23% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 85%; Other-than-serious 14%; Repeat 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 16 | 20 | $14,950 | $7,265 |
| Michigan | 15 | 20 | $18,300 | $12,900 |
| Illinois | 14 | 17 | $20,335 | $8,776 |
| Tennessee | 14 | 16 | $13,000 | $10,940 |
| Connecticut | 12 | 17 | $24,037 | $15,191 |
| Oregon | 12 | 17 | $56,440 | $56,205 |
| New Jersey | 10 | 12 | $62,843 | $58,209 |
| New York | 10 | 16 | $2,979 | $2,234 |
| Virginia | 8 | 11 | $20,200 | $15,578 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 9 | $41,250 | $39,000 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 7 | $93,449 | $54,724 |
| Georgia | 5 | 6 | $27,994 | $16,796 |
| Massachusetts | 5 | 6 | $6,833 | $4,783 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 5 | $1,950 | $1,365 |
| Ohio | 4 | 6 | $23,171 | $13,500 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 4 | $36,648 | $28,609 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | $9,285 | $7,237 |
| Alabama | 3 | 4 | $10,725 | $9,136 |
| Florida | 3 | 3 | $14,305 | $12,276 |
| Hawaii | 3 | 3 | $8,038 | $8,038 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 70 inspections
- Utilities: 23 inspections
- Construction: 17 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 17 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 13 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 12 inspections
- Retail trade: 10 inspections
- Other services: 6 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marmon Retail Solutions | Wagoner, OK | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $9,457 | OpenAbatement due Sep 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD | Aug 31, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Valvoline LLC | Lebanon, OR | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $29,147 | $29,147 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tactical Electric Incorporated | Springfield, OR | Aug 27, 2026 | 2 | $2,428 | $2,428 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Pembroke Department of Public Works (DPW) | Pembroke, MA | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| International Warehousing & Shipping LLC | Mobile, AL | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 24, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| American Castings, LLC | Pryor, OK | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $5,674 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Macy's, Inc. | Honolulu, HI | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $8,038 | $8,038 | OpenAbatement due Aug 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Borroughs LLC | Kalamazoo, MI | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tennplasco, LLC | Lafayette, TN | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| System Transport, Inc. | Denver, CO | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $8,038 | $5,627 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lallemand Bio-Ingredients USA LLC | Hutchinson, MN | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $800 | $800 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Instituci�n Anadela Inc. | Villalba, PR | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $1,774 | OpenAbatement due Sep 9, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Global Service Centers, LLC | Theodore, AL | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $2,383 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Montana Specialty Mills LLC | Great Falls, MT | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $3,376 | $2,026 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sedalia Galaxy 10 | Sedalia, MO | Aug 10, 2026 | 2 | $2,837 | $1,702 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Pepper's Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority | Fairlawn, VA | Aug 7, 2026 | 4 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026Contested Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| TPM Inc. | Auburn, KY | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 11, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Valero Refining Company- Oklahoma | Ardmore, OK | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $7,093 | $7,093 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 24, 2026Contested Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Clark Lumber Company, LLC | Lafayette, TN | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $1,785 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Red Bank Regional High School District | Little Silver, NJ | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $6,300 | $6,300 | OpenAbatement due Sep 4, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| G.W. Liles Construction Company, Inc. | Concord, NC | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| US LBM Operating Co. 3009, LLC | Richmond, VA | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $5,770 | $4,039 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| E & C Chemicals, Inc. | Carrollton, GA | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Town of Scotland | Scotland, CT | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $200 | $120 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Food Floors LLC | Winston Salem, NC | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Johnny B. Transport, LLC | Idaho Falls, ID | Jul 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,376 | $3,376 | OpenAbatement due Aug 3, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| The Patane Group | Landover, MD | Jul 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $1,197 | Formal settlementContested Jul 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility | Lowell, MA | Jul 10, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| City of Shelton | Shelton, CT | Jul 10, 2026 | 2 | $320 | $128 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mancini's Bakery | Mc Kees Rocks, PA | Jul 9, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| CWC Textron LLC | Muskegon, MI | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $4,500 | $2,250 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Eqi Logistics LLC | Williamsport, MD | Jul 6, 2026 | 1 | $1,800 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Clearview Regional High School District - Clearview High School | Mullica Hill, NJ | Jul 1, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Precision Industries, Inc. | Portland, TN | Jun 30, 2026 | 1 | $1,400 | $1,400 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rensselaer Co. Sewer Dist Wwtp | Troy, NY | Jun 30, 2026 | 3 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Precision Castings of Tennessee, Inc. | Gallatin, TN | Jun 29, 2026 | 2 | $2,800 | $2,240 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bottling Group, LLC | Jacksonville, FL | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $6,029 | $4,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Howard County Government | Savage, MD | Jun 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,325 | $1,995 | Formal settlementAbatement due Jul 2, 2026Contested Jul 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Russell Forest Products, Inc. | Hartselle, AL | Jun 24, 2026 | 2 | $6,753 | $6,753 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.28 Fall Protection Duty (68 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (61 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (57 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (55 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (48 shared inspections)
- 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces (46 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (41 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (41 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.29 require?
Where 1910.28 says fall protection is needed, this section describes how the systems must be built and used. It sets technical criteria for guardrails, safety nets, designated areas, covers, handrails and stair rails, cages and wells on fixed ladders, ladder safety systems, and toeboards. For example, guardrail top rails must stand about 42 inches high and withstand a 200-pound force, and hole covers must support at least twice the expected load.
How often was 1910.29 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.29 (Fall Protection Criteria) appeared in 184 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 230 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.29 is cited most?
1910.29(b)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 40 items: Top rail height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches
Which states cite 1910.29 most often?
The most citations under 1910.29 in this period were issued in Maryland, Michigan, Illinois.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.29 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $400; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $200. Totals: $616,953 proposed, $472,462 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.29 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 13% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.