1926.106 Work Over Water: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
When construction workers are over or near water where drowning is a danger, they must be provided with approved life jackets or buoyant work vests. Ring buoys with line must be readily available, and at least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available where employees work over or adjacent to water. Buoyant vests must be inspected for defects before and after each use.
What the standard requires
- Provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or buoyant work vests
- Inspect buoyant vests before and after each use
- Keep ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line available
- Have a lifesaving skiff immediately available
Hazards it addresses
- Drowning after falls into water
- Hypothermia from immersion
Cited in bridge construction, marine work, dock building, and dam projects.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.106(a) | Employees working over or near water where drowning is possible must be provided with approved life jackets or buoyant work vests. | 8 | 8 | $5,296 |
| 1926.106(c) | Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be provided and readily available. | 3 | 3 | $5,296 |
| 1926.106(d) | At least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available where employees work over or adjacent to water. | 3 | 3 | $4,965 |
| 1926.106(b) | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 15 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $77,359 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $60,014, 22% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 60%; Other-than-serious 40%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 3 | 4 | $36,742 | $32,333 |
| Florida | 2 | 3 | $15,087 | $10,187 |
| Alabama | 1 | 3 | $3,376 | $3,376 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | $8,275 | $6,620 |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | $5,296 | $0 |
| Oregon | 1 | 2 | $3,618 | $2,533 |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 |
By industry
- Construction: 8 inspections
- Arts, entertainment & recreation: 1 inspections
- Manufacturing: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Crossings LLC | Portland, OR | Aug 14, 2026 | 2 | $3,618 | $2,533 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Reicon Group LLC | Newark, NJ | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $11,916 | $8,500 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Hughes Companies, Inc. | Mobile, AL | Jun 12, 2026 | 3 | $3,376 | $3,376 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Gulf & Bay Dock Works, LLC | Clearwater, FL | Apr 30, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | Final orderAbatement due May 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Mabank, TX | Feb 17, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final orderAbatement due Mar 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Concrete Cutting & Breaking Co. | Columbus, OH | Jan 30, 2026 | 1 | $5,296 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D'annunzio & Sons Inc. | East Brunswick, NJ | Jan 22, 2026 | 2 | $19,861 | $19,861 | ContestedContested Feb 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Anka Painting Co., Inc. | East Brunswick, NJ | Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,972 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Hatchell Concrete, Inc. | Columbia, NC | Jan 20, 2026 | 1 | $8,275 | $6,620 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jan 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Matador Construction & Land Development Inc. | Wellington, FL | Dec 10, 2025 | 2 | $12,249 | $7,349 | Informal settlementAbatement due Dec 22, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.416 Electrical Work Practices (2 shared inspections)
- 1926.21 Construction Safety Training (2 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (1 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (1 shared inspections)
- 1904.39 Severe Injury Reporting (1 shared inspections)
- 1926.417 Electrical Lockout/Tagout (1 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.106 require?
When construction workers are over or near water where drowning is a danger, they must be provided with approved life jackets or buoyant work vests. Ring buoys with line must be readily available, and at least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available where employees work over or adjacent to water. Buoyant vests must be inspected for defects before and after each use.
How often was 1926.106 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.106 (Work Over Water) appeared in 10 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 15 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.106 is cited most?
1926.106(a) was the most-cited paragraph, with 8 items: Employees working over or near water where drowning is possible must be provided with approved life jackets or buoyant work vests.
Which states cite 1926.106 most often?
The most citations under 1926.106 in this period were issued in New Jersey, Florida, Alabama.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.106 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $4,965; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $3,377. Totals: $77,359 proposed, $60,014 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.106 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.