In Alaska, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.501 (Fall Protection) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Fall Protection is enforced for private construction employers by Alaska Occupational Safety & Health.
29 CFR 1926.501 · Alaska
Fall Protection Requirements in Alaska
Fall Protection in Alaska: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erection, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
AlaskaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Alaska Occupational Safety & Health
In FY2025, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health cited 29 CFR 1926.501 19 times in Alaska construction (8.9% of its construction citations there, the 5th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.501(b)(1), unprotected sides and edges, with 8 citations.
19
1926.501 citations in Alaska construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in Alaska (8 citations)
7.1
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Alaska, 2024 (BLS)
Alaska 29 CFR 1926.501 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-0819
citations of 29 CFR 1926.501 (FY2025)
$179,494
penalties for this standard
8.9%
of the state's 213 construction citations
In FY2025, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health cited 29 CFR 1926.501 (Fall Protection) 19 times on Alaska construction jobsites with $179,494 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 8.9% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it fifth on Alaska's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Alaska's own rule says
“a beam shall be connected with a minimum of two bolts at each end; a beam may not be cut free until the minimum number of bolts have been installed; a connection of a beam by a wrench or drift pin does not meet the requirements of this paragraph.”
Fall protection arrives through a range rather than a blanket adoption: 8 AAC 61.1010(c) takes 1926.10 through 1926.29, 1926.31 through 1926.1153, Subpart AA and the crane sections, all "as amended". Note what is missing from that list: 1926.1 through 1926.9, and 1926.30. On steel, Alaska then adds its own sequence rules at 8 AAC 61.1150: a designated signaller, one end bolted before the other is started, two bolts minimum at each end before the load is cut free, anchor bolts fully tightened or temporary guys affixed before lifting falls are detached, and employees straddling the beam rather than walking the top flange where feasible.
29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erectionThe duty itself differs from the federal text.
Read in Alaska Occupational Safety & Health's own rule text · verified 2026-08-09
Falls and work deaths in Alaska, 2024
Alaska recorded 24 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 29 in 2023. BLS did not publish a separate 2024 count of deaths from falls, slips and trips for Alaska.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Alaska, 2024
How Alaska Enforces 29 CFR 1926.501
Alaska runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Alaska Occupational Safety & Health, which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Alaska's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is 29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erection, which differs from the federal text (see the state rule above). Alaska Occupational Safety & Health cited 29 CFR 1926.501 19 times in Alaska construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Alaska applies the federal penalty maximums.
In Alaska, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 went most often to Roofing Contractors (5) and New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (4). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erection, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Alaska State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Alaska
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Alaska, the program is Consultation and Training (Alaska Occupational Safety and Health). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Alaska Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.501 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Alaska applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Alaska Occupational Safety & Health computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Fall Protection Requirements 29 CFR 1926.501
- Provide fall protection at 6 feet above a lower level: a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system
- Protect workers at unprotected sides/edges, leading edges, hoist areas, ramps, and excavation edges (1926.501(b))
- Cover or guard every floor hole and skylight: protection from falling through above 6 ft, and from stepping in at any height
- Related duties under neighboring standards: system criteria 1926.502, training 1926.503, scaffold fall protection 1926.451(g)
Who enforces it in Alaska: Alaska Occupational Safety & Health inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Alaska Occupational Safety & Health can add requirements beyond the federal standard above, so check its own rules as well.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1926.501 are on the 29 CFR 1926.501 page.
Most-Cited Fall Protection Paragraphs in Alaska, FY2025
Alaska Occupational Safety & Health issued 19 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 to Alaska construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges. 8 citations
“Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level …”
- 2
1926.501(b)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs. 5 citations
“Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) …”
- 3
1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction. 2 citations
“Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall …”
- 4
1926.501(b)(14) Wall openings. 1 citation
“Each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet (1.8 …”
- 5
1926.501(b)(2)(ii) 1 citation
“Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level where leading edges are under construction, but who is not engaged in …”
- 6
1926.501(b)(4)(i) 1 citation
“Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, …”
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), by the paragraph cited. Paragraph text: eCFR, current as of September 24, 2026. data.dol.gov
Alaska Safety & Enforcement Profile
213
FY2025 construction citations
Alaska Occupational Safety & Health
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Alaska, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (20), Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (12) and Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (7), out of 88 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.501 in Alaska, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (5), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (4) and All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (4), of 19 citations.
- Fatal injury rate in Alaska, 2024: 7.1 per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries. BLS did not publish a 2024 construction rate here.
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), grouped by the cited employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Fall Protection Compliance Tools
Fall Protection FAQ for Alaska
Which Alaska construction trades are cited most under Fall Protection?
In FY2025, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health issued 19 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 to Alaska construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (5), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (4) and All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (4) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Alaska Occupational Safety & Health inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health issued 213 construction citations across 49 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erection, Alaska's own rule on this subject.
How often is Fall Protection cited on Alaska jobsites?
In FY2025, Alaska's state plan (Alaska Occupational Safety & Health) issued 213 construction citations across 49 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Fall Protection can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Alaska's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces fall protection (1926.501) on Alaska construction sites?
AKOSH, Alaska Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, not federal OSHA. Alaska runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 29 CFR 1926.501, 19 times in FY2025 construction.
How much did AKOSH assess for fall protection in FY2025?
AKOSH cited 29 CFR 1926.501 19 times in Alaska construction in FY2025, with $179,494 in penalties at current amounts, about $9,447 per citation (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards).
Can I get free OSHA help in Alaska without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Alaska is Consultation and Training (Alaska Occupational Safety and Health). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
How often does Alaska cite 29 CFR 1926.501 in construction?
In FY2025, Alaska Occupational Safety & Health cited 29 CFR 1926.501 (Fall Protection) 19 times on Alaska construction jobsites, with $179,494 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 8.9% of the 213 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Fall Protection Guides & Resources
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Related standards
Fall Protection in Other States
13 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.501 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
California8 CCR §1670(a), with §1621(a) for railings and §1730 for roofingown maxHawaiiHAR §12-110-3, with the definition of "infeasible" at §12-110-50(b)(1)Kentucky803 KAR 2:412own maxMaryland29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by COMAR 09.12.31.01, with COMAR 09.12.32.07own maxMichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 45, R 408.44501 to R 408.44502own maxMinnesota29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by Minn. R. 5205.0010, subp. 6, with Minn. R. 5207.0250NevadaNRS 618.983 and NRS 618.987 (mandatory OSHA-10 and OSHA-30)New Mexico29 CFR 1926.501 as incorporated by 11.5.3.9(A) NMACown max
Other OSHA Standards in Alaska
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
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