In Arizona, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Ladders (Construction) is enforced for private construction employers by Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH).
29 CFR 1926.1053 · Arizona
Ladders (Construction) Requirements in Arizona
Ladders (Construction) in Arizona: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
ArizonaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH)
In FY2025, Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 15 times in Arizona construction (8.2% of its construction citations there, the 3rd most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1053(b)(1) with 8 citations.
15
1926.1053 citations in Arizona construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in Arizona (8 citations)
9.0
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Arizona, 2024 (BLS)
Arizona 29 CFR 1926.1053 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-0815
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1053 (FY2025)
$31,021
penalties for this standard
8.2%
of the state's 183 construction citations
In FY2025, Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 15 times on Arizona construction jobsites with $31,021 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 8.2% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it third on Arizona's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Arizona's own rule says
Ladders are adopted federal text at the February 24, 2021 cut-off: the three-foot extension above the landing, the load ratings and the training duties as they read then. Arizona wrote no ladder rule of its own. It does keep a small number of genuinely state-written standards in the same article, such as the prohibition at R20-5-605 on hoes with handles under four feet for weeding or thinning crops, which shows the pattern: Arizona adopts federal text wholesale and legislates separately only where it has a specific local concern.
29 CFR 1926.1053 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-601The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Falls and work deaths in Arizona, 2024
Arizona recorded 94 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 103 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 17 of them (18%). Construction accounted for 24, 9 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Arizona, 2024
How Arizona Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053
Arizona runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Arizona'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 1926.1053 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-601. Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 15 times in Arizona construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Arizona applies the federal penalty maximums.
In Arizona, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 went most often to Residential Remodelers (3) and Roofing Contractors (3). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1926.1053, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Arizona State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Arizona
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Arizona, the program is Consultation & Training, Industrial Commission of Arizona (Division of Occupational Safety & 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.
Arizona Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1053 (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) |
Arizona applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Ladders (Construction) Requirements 29 CFR 1926.1053
- Extend ladder 3 feet above landing
- Secure at top and bottom
- Maintain 3-point contact
- Use non-slip feet on ladder base
- Inspect before each use
- Do not load beyond rated capacity
- Face ladder while climbing
Who enforces it in Arizona: Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) 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 1926.1053 are on the 29 CFR 1926.1053 page.
Most-Cited Ladders (Construction) Paragraphs in Arizona, FY2025
Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) issued 15 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Arizona construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.1053(b)(1) 8 citations
“When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing …”
- 2
1926.1053(b)(6) 2 citations
“Ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental displacement.”
- 3
1926.1053(b)(8) 2 citations
“Ladders placed in any location where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic, such as in passageways, doorways, or driveways, shall be secured to prevent accidental …”
- 4
1926.1053(b)(13) 1 citation
“The top or top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.”
- 5
1926.1053(b)(21) 1 citation
“Each employee shall use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when progressing up and/or down the ladder.”
- 6
1926.1053(b)(4) 1 citation
“Ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.”
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
Arizona Safety & Enforcement Profile
183
FY2025 construction citations
Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Arizona, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (22), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (16) and Roofing Contractors (11), out of 113 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1053 in Arizona, FY2025: Residential Remodelers (3), Roofing Contractors (3) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2), of 15 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Arizona, 2024: 9.0 per 100,000 full-time workers, 22nd highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 2.8).
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 Ladders (Construction) Compliance Tools
Ladders (Construction) FAQ for Arizona
Which Arizona construction trades are cited most under Ladders (Construction)?
In FY2025, Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) issued 15 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Arizona construction employers, most often to Residential Remodelers (3), Roofing Contractors (3) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) issued 183 construction citations across 62 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.1053 on a recurring basis.
How often is Ladders (Construction) cited on Arizona jobsites?
In FY2025, Arizona's state plan (Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH)) issued 183 construction citations across 62 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Ladders (Construction) can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Arizona's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces ladder rules (1926.1053) on Arizona construction sites?
ADOSH, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, not federal OSHA. Arizona runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 29 CFR 1926.1053, 15 times in FY2025 construction.
Can I get free OSHA help in Arizona without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Arizona is Consultation & Training, Industrial Commission of Arizona (Division of Occupational Safety & 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 Arizona cite 29 CFR 1926.1053 in construction?
In FY2025, Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 15 times on Arizona construction jobsites, with $31,021 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 8.2% of the 183 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Ladders (Construction) Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Ladders (Construction) in Other States
9 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.1053 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
California8 CCR §1675, which routes portable ladders to §3276 and fixed ladders to §3277-3278own maxHawaii29 CFR 1926.1053 as incorporated by HAR §12-110-50(a), with §12-110-1 and §12-110-3MichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 11, R 408.41101 to R 408.41140own maxMinnesotaMinn. R. 5207.0200 and 5207.0210 (ships ladders)NevadaNAC 618.503, adopting ANSI A10.13-1989North Carolina29 CFR 1926.1053 as incorporated by 13 NCAC 07F .0201Oregon29 CFR 1926.1053 as adopted, plus OAR 437-003-0065own maxUtah29 CFR 1926.1053 as incorporated by R614-1-4.A.4, with R614-1-5.C.1own max
Other OSHA Standards in Arizona
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.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
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