1926.100 Hard Hats: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Construction workers must wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock and burns. Helmets must meet the specified consensus standard criteria, and those used near electrical hazards must be rated for electrical protection. The requirement applies to anyone on site exposed to these hazards.
What the standard requires
- Require helmets wherever head injury hazards exist
- Provide helmets meeting the applicable ANSI Z89.1 criteria
- Use electrically rated helmets where electrical hazards are present
Hazards it addresses
- Skull fractures and concussions from falling objects
- Head injuries from striking fixed objects
- Electrical burns to the head
Cited in commercial construction, steel erection, and work below overhead activity or cranes.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.100(a) | Employees in areas with a possible danger of head injury must be protected by helmets. | 967 | 967 | $2,128 |
Penalties
Across 967 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $2,847,401 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $2,316,931, 19% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 89%; Repeat 7%; Other-than-serious 3%; Willful 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 127 | 127 | $95,100 | $71,010 |
| Maryland | 117 | 117 | $198,591 | $174,609 |
| Illinois | 114 | 114 | $410,755 | $337,528 |
| Texas | 96 | 96 | $353,734 | $266,443 |
| Virginia | 75 | 75 | $375,885 | $341,053 |
| North Carolina | 74 | 74 | $89,250 | $79,879 |
| New York | 40 | 40 | $99,087 | $78,998 |
| New Jersey | 30 | 30 | $206,405 | $189,341 |
| Massachusetts | 28 | 28 | $107,793 | $59,890 |
| Florida | 26 | 26 | $85,582 | $64,779 |
| Tennessee | 21 | 21 | $14,450 | $13,990 |
| Georgia | 20 | 20 | $59,233 | $55,303 |
| Ohio | 20 | 20 | $140,276 | $88,673 |
| Wisconsin | 17 | 17 | $67,842 | $61,373 |
| Missouri | 15 | 15 | $68,493 | $65,576 |
| Minnesota | 14 | 14 | $10,500 | $9,540 |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 13 | $29,078 | $20,599 |
| Kentucky | 11 | 11 | $33,600 | $31,500 |
| Alabama | 10 | 10 | $45,161 | $32,551 |
| New Hampshire | 9 | 9 | $28,944 | $20,545 |
By industry
- Construction: 944 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 8 inspections
- Utilities: 3 inspections
- Manufacturing: 2 inspections
- Real estate & rental: 2 inspections
- Professional & technical services: 2 inspections
- Information: 1 inspections
- Arts, entertainment & recreation: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truluck Construction Inc. | Summerville, SC | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Status not determinableAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| New City Landscape LLC | Washington, DC | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $2,412 | OpenAbatement due Sep 9, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 22, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Grand Prairie, TX | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $1,077 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Anna, TX | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 22, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Vanston-O'Brien, Inc. | Belleville, MI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $3,200 | $1,600 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Leblanc Painting | Saint Joseph, MI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $400 | $400 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Smithsburg, MD | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Cole Interiors, Inc. | Providence Forge, VA | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $1,575 | $1,575 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Melendez Quality Roofing LLC | Wilmington, NC | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D.a.b. Contractors LLC | Aurora, IL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $1,064 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| D.a.b. Contractors LLC | Aurora, IL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $1,490 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ismael Masonry LLC | Saginaw, MI | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $400 | $400 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Junior's Framing, LLC | Kernersville, NC | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Maria DE Los Angeles Antonio Flores | Greensboro, NC | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Kankakee, IL | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Trine Construction Corp. | Highland Park, IL | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $4,634 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| A.g.a. Construction LLC | Aurora, CO | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Sep 30, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Alvey's Sign Co. Inc. | Peoria, IL | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Silver Ridge Development Inc. | Farmington, NM | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $4,221 | $4,221 | OpenAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| M.H.S. LLC | Independence, MO | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | ContestedContested Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Pomavilla Contracting LLC | Randolph, NJ | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 11, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Mokena, IL | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Oct 6, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 10, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Heyn Brothers Construction Corp. | Faribault, MN | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Harrodsburg, KY | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Golden Star Roofing LLC | Faribault, MN | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Harrodsburg, KY | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $2,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Universal Construction, Inc. | Attleboro, MA | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 10, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| BC Construction LLC | Harrodsburg, KY | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hgo Renovations LLC | Lincoln, IL | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Aug 27, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 9, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Smalley Construction, Inc. | Pontiac, MI | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 4, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 9, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Roofing Unlimited, LLC | Baltimore, MD | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 26, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Arnold & Sons Plumbing-Heating-A/C, Inc. | Morton, IL | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Collins Roofing, Inc. | Lincoln, IL | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $1,701 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Idaho Siding LLC | Boise, ID | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,191 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Mckinney, TX | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,961 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Des Moines Excavating, LLC | Des Moines, IA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | OpenAbatement due Sep 10, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Neighbor Home Improvement LLC | Elmhurst, IL | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,567 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Chicopee, MA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | OpenAbatement due Oct 1, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Islas Construction LLC | Wrightsville Beach, NC | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $812 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tongue - Groove LLC | Wrightsville Beach, NC | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,000 | $1,950 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (638 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (373 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (332 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (308 shared inspections)
- 1926.451 Scaffold Safety (157 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (111 shared inspections)
- 1926.1060 Ladder and Stair Training (79 shared inspections)
- 1926.502 Fall Protection Systems (69 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.100 require?
Construction workers must wear protective helmets when working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock and burns. Helmets must meet the specified consensus standard criteria, and those used near electrical hazards must be rated for electrical protection. The requirement applies to anyone on site exposed to these hazards.
How often was 1926.100 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.100 (Hard Hats) appeared in 967 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 967 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.100 is cited most?
1926.100(a) was the most-cited paragraph, with 967 items: Employees in areas with a possible danger of head injury must be protected by helmets.
Which states cite 1926.100 most often?
The most citations under 1926.100 in this period were issued in Michigan, Maryland, Illinois.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.100 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $2,128; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $1,500. Totals: $2,847,401 proposed, $2,316,931 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.100 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.