1910.28 Fall Protection Duty: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Establishes when fall protection is needed in general industry workplaces. Employees on walking-working surfaces with an unprotected side or edge four feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall protection systems. The section also addresses holes, dockboards, runways, dangerous equipment, fixed ladders over 24 feet, stairways, low-slope roofs, and other specific situations, and requires protection from falling objects where people below could be struck.
What the standard requires
- Protect workers at unprotected sides and edges four feet or more above a lower level
- Cover or guard floor holes, including skylights
- Provide stair rails and handrails on stairways with four or more risers
- Equip fixed ladders over 24 feet with ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems
- Protect employees below from falling objects using toeboards, screens, or barricades
Hazards it addresses
- Falls from elevated platforms, mezzanines, and edges
- Falls through floor holes and skylights
- Being struck by falling tools or materials
Widely cited in warehousing, manufacturing, and facilities with mezzanines, loading docks, and rooftop equipment.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.28(b)(1)(i) | Protection at unprotected sides and edges four feet or more above a lower level | 521 | 521 | $3,972 |
| 1910.28(b)(11)(ii) | Handrails and stair rail systems on stairways | 102 | 102 | $465 |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(ii) | 89 | 89 | $1,447 | |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(i) | Protection from falling through holes, including skylights, four feet or more above a lower level | 84 | 84 | $3,375 |
| 1910.28(b)(6)(i) | 35 | 35 | $8,276 | |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(iv) | 28 | 28 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.28(b)(13)(i) | Fall protection for work on low-slope roofs | 20 | 20 | $2,736 |
| 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A) | Protection at unprotected sides and edges four feet or more above a lower level | 19 | 19 | $0 |
| 1910.28(b)(2)(i) | 14 | 14 | $2,775 | |
| 1910.28(b)(15) | 13 | 13 | $2,800 | |
| 1910.28(b)(13)(ii) | Fall protection for work on low-slope roofs | 11 | 11 | $2,000 |
| 1910.28(b)(7) | 10 | 10 | $5,533 | |
| 1910.28(c) | 10 | 10 | $4,350 | |
| 1910.28(b)(11)(i) | Handrails and stair rail systems on stairways | 9 | 9 | $0 |
| 1910.28(b)(8) | 9 | 9 | $3,400 |
Penalties
Across 1,055 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $5,440,602 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $4,161,704, 24% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 85%; Other-than-serious 14%; Repeat 1%; Willful 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 73 | 86 | $304,929 | $263,630 |
| Michigan | 68 | 80 | $124,300 | $80,700 |
| Tennessee | 55 | 59 | $76,025 | $74,450 |
| Minnesota | 52 | 56 | $116,050 | $96,605 |
| Virginia | 50 | 60 | $296,671 | $243,840 |
| Nevada | 46 | 50 | $280,147 | $203,126 |
| New York | 46 | 53 | $170,385 | $130,579 |
| Illinois | 34 | 38 | $513,939 | $346,013 |
| Wisconsin | 34 | 39 | $371,791 | $281,002 |
| Maryland | 33 | 41 | $33,775 | $28,061 |
| New Jersey | 31 | 33 | $232,526 | $187,454 |
| Kentucky | 28 | 32 | $172,500 | $146,540 |
| Texas | 28 | 31 | $300,126 | $188,960 |
| Connecticut | 27 | 31 | $89,005 | $54,719 |
| Florida | 27 | 27 | $178,518 | $138,249 |
| Ohio | 26 | 27 | $214,638 | $119,447 |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 32 | $85,573 | $52,288 |
| North Carolina | 25 | 27 | $122,305 | $87,842 |
| Pennsylvania | 23 | 24 | $171,866 | $137,565 |
| Colorado | 18 | 19 | $112,583 | $96,187 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 324 inspections
- Construction: 92 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 83 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 65 inspections
- Retail trade: 65 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 54 inspections
- Utilities: 47 inspections
- Other services: 46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR. Wok Foods, Inc. | Las Vegas, NV | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $4,220 | $2,110 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Quikrete Las Vegas | North Las Vegas, NV | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,215 | $3,215 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Wahiawa, HI | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $3,015 | $3,015 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Agru America, Inc. | Fernley, NV | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $5,627 | $5,627 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Ardmore - Parks and Recreation | Ardmore, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD | Aug 31, 2026 | 3 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Point O Woods Golf and Country Club | Benton Harbor, MI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $1,500 | $750 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs | Albuquerque, NM | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $16,554 | $16,554 | OpenAbatement due Sep 24, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Sun Isle West, Inc. | Honolulu, HI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $4,020 | $2,613 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aeko Kula LLC | Honolulu, HI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $14,187 | $14,187 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| McLane Company Inc. | Nicholasville, KY | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 15, 2026Contested Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aggrowth International | Boone, IA | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $5,320 | $2,660 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Lincoln, IL | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $13,902 | $13,900 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Topaz Lodge, Inc. | Gardnerville, NV | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | San Antonio, TX | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $7,566 | $4,540 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Fence Direct Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,703 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Growers' Co.-Operative Grape Juice Co., Inc. | Westfield, NY | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $3,376 | $3,376 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| H-2-O Help & Hope to Others | Dallas, OR | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $1,457 | $1,457 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Gene Properties, LLC | Westerly, RI | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $3,547 | OpenAbatement due Oct 13, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Nestle Purina Petcare Company | Denver, CO | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $8,542 | $8,542 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Bellmawr Liquors LLC | Bellmawr, NJ | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,470 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Pembroke Department of Public Works (DPW) | Pembroke, MA | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| American Rheinmetall Systems LLC | Saint Marys, OH | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $5,675 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Sico America Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $1,200 | $720 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ossur North America Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $13,240 | $13,240 | OpenAbatement due Sep 22, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Knife River Corporation - North Central | Sauk Rapids, MN | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $700 | $700 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Agco Corporation | Jackson, MN | Aug 26, 2026 | 2 | $4,200 | $2,520 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Emmi Roth USA, Inc. | Platteville, WI | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $9,930 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jan 4, 2027 | osha.gov |
| Quest Drilling Company, LLC | Kendall, KS | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $7,035 | $4,221 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Northeastern Products Corp. | Caspian, MI | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cleanpro LLC | St George, UT | Aug 25, 2026 | 4 | $788 | $788 | OpenAbatement due Sep 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Lipman-Colorado, LLC | Frederick, CO | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $7,235 | $7,235 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Art Stone-Granite & Marble, Inc. | Marietta, GA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 19, 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 |
| Viobin Products LLC | Monticello, IL | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,688 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aloha Termite Kauai Inc. | Lihue, HI | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $70,226 | $45,647 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Advanced Products & Manufacturing Incorporated | Rossville, GA | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Kozyard LLC | Piscataway, NJ | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,476 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sam's Club | Appleton, WI | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $10,251 | $7,176 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Sil-Crete, Inc. dba Silvi Concrete | South Plainfield, NJ | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $9,931 | $9,931 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (170 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (169 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (168 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (159 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (136 shared inspections)
- 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces (123 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (115 shared inspections)
- 1910.30 Fall Hazard Training (112 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.28 require?
Establishes when fall protection is needed in general industry workplaces. Employees on walking-working surfaces with an unprotected side or edge four feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall protection systems. The section also addresses holes, dockboards, runways, dangerous equipment, fixed ladders over 24 feet, stairways, low-slope roofs, and other specific situations, and requires protection from falling objects where people below could be struck.
How often was 1910.28 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.28 (Fall Protection Duty) appeared in 935 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 1,055 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.28 is cited most?
1910.28(b)(1)(i) was the most-cited paragraph, with 521 items: Protection at unprotected sides and edges four feet or more above a lower level
Which states cite 1910.28 most often?
The most citations under 1910.28 in this period were issued in Oregon, Michigan, Tennessee.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.28 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $3,000; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $2,065. Totals: $5,440,602 proposed, $4,161,704 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.28 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 12% 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.