1926.1051 Stairway and Ladder Access: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Wherever a construction worker must move between levels with a break in elevation of 19 inches or more and no ramp, runway, embankment, or personnel hoist is available, the employer must provide a stairway or ladder. When only one point of access exists between levels, it must be kept clear, and employers must install required fall protection for stairs and ladders before work requiring them begins.
What the standard requires
- Provide a stairway or ladder at breaks in elevation of 19 inches or more
- Keep at least one point of access clear for free passage
- Provide extra access when only ladders serve 25 or more workers
- Install required stair and ladder protections before work begins
Hazards it addresses
- Falls when climbing improvised access
- Trapping without clear egress
Cited in building construction, excavation, and work on elevated decks and floors.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.1051(a) | A stairway or ladder must be provided at all personnel points of access with a break in elevation of 19 inches or more. | 117 | 117 | $2,270 |
| 1926.1051(b) | Required stairway and ladder fall protection systems must be installed before employees begin work that requires them. | 2 | 2 | $3,830 |
Penalties
Across 119 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $477,056 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $417,918, 12% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 76%; Other-than-serious 17%; Repeat 6%; Willful 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 24 | 24 | $38,528 | $28,557 |
| Texas | 16 | 16 | $65,767 | $46,824 |
| Georgia | 15 | 15 | $41,706 | $38,416 |
| Maryland | 15 | 15 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| Illinois | 14 | 14 | $114,627 | $104,494 |
| Arizona | 6 | 6 | $37,362 | $37,362 |
| Virginia | 5 | 5 | $2,540 | $2,332 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 3 | $8,513 | $4,000 |
| New York | 3 | 3 | $13,619 | $13,619 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 3 | $10,877 | $6,837 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 2 | $10,923 | $7,944 |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 2 | $78,275 | $78,275 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | $7,878 | $7,878 |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,979 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 |
| Guam | 1 | 1 | $7,035 | $4,924 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | $150 | $90 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | $21,281 | $21,281 |
By industry
- Construction: 114 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 2 inspections
- Manufacturing: 2 inspections
- Educational services: 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPT Construction LLC | Linwood, NC | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Anna, TX | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $5,958 | $5,958 | OpenAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 22, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Linwood, NC | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J G Rangel Construction | Mesquite, TX | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $2,383 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tongue - Groove LLC | Wrightsville Beach, NC | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,950 | $1,267 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kupferschmid Construction, Inc. dba Integrabuild | Peoria, IL | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,135 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mejia Construction LLC | Savannah, GA | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Carcamo's Construction LLC | Ludowici, GA | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | OpenAbatement due Aug 20, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Crandall, TX | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Forney, TX | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | OpenAbatement due Aug 19, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| James N. Gray Company | Rockville, VA | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $1,040 | $832 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Hill Farm Homes, LLC | Leechburg, PA | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Area Erectors, Inc. | Glencoe, IL | Jul 15, 2026 | 1 | $14,188 | $12,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Apex Framing LLC | Webster, TX | Jul 13, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | OpenAbatement due Aug 6, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 3, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Jca Construction LLC | Spring Valley, NY | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $5,958 | $5,958 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Puerto Rico Drilling & Supplys Inc. | Carolina, PR | Jul 6, 2026 | 1 | $8,275 | $8,275 | OpenAbatement due Jul 27, 2026Contest deadline ~Jul 27, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Csa Construction, Inc. | Manvel, TX | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mid-State Investments, LLC | Clarksville, TN | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $600 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| B & M Contractor Corporation | Sicklerville, NJ | Jun 26, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sakoda Construction LLC | Kailua Kona, HI | Jun 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Trejo Brothers Construction LLP | Mount Joy, PA | Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Woodlands Construction LLC | Gastonia, NC | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $1,300 | $845 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Fort Worth, TX | Jun 17, 2026 | 1 | $1,929 | $1,929 | Final order | osha.gov |
| EMG Commercial Roofing, Inc. | Wilmette, IL | Jun 17, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,419 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Waxahachie, TX | Jun 16, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,702 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jr Framing Carpentry LLC | Nottingham, MD | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Neto Construction Services Corp. | Duxbury, MA | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rag Framing LLC | Durham, NC | Jun 10, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $1,300 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| ACB Primo Construction, LLC | Wingate, NC | Jun 9, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $812 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| RS Framing Experts Inc. | Merrimack, NH | Jun 5, 2026 | 1 | $21,281 | $21,281 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jsolis Construction LLC | Winston Salem, NC | Jun 3, 2026 | 1 | $1,300 | $1,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kjellstrom & Lee Construction, Inc. | Midlothian, VA | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $780 | $780 | ContestedContested Jul 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Miller Carpentry, LLC | Mahomet, IL | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $17,023 | $17,023 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Leland, NC | May 28, 2026 | 1 | $9,930 | $6,454 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M B Brothers Construction, LLC | Milton, DE | May 28, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Middle River, MD | May 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M&V Framing, LLC | Braselton, GA | May 27, 2026 | 1 | $6,809 | $6,809 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Partenon Builders Inc. | Belmont, MA | May 19, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $3,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Braselton, GA | May 18, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Frederick, MD | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (103 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (47 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (42 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (39 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (21 shared inspections)
- 1926.100 Hard Hats (20 shared inspections)
- 1926.1060 Ladder and Stair Training (16 shared inspections)
- 1926.451 Scaffold Safety (11 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.1051 require?
Wherever a construction worker must move between levels with a break in elevation of 19 inches or more and no ramp, runway, embankment, or personnel hoist is available, the employer must provide a stairway or ladder. When only one point of access exists between levels, it must be kept clear, and employers must install required fall protection for stairs and ladders before work requiring them begins.
How often was 1926.1051 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.1051 (Stairway and Ladder Access) appeared in 119 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 119 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.1051 is cited most?
1926.1051(a) was the most-cited paragraph, with 117 items: A stairway or ladder must be provided at all personnel points of access with a break in elevation of 19 inches or more.
Which states cite 1926.1051 most often?
The most citations under 1926.1051 in this period were issued in North Carolina, Texas, Georgia.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.1051 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $2,270; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $1,702. Totals: $477,056 proposed, $417,918 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.1051 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 5% 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.