In Indiana, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation in 2026, rising to $70,000 for a willful or repeat violation. Ladders (Construction) is enforced for private construction employers by Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA). Indiana sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline.
29 CFR 1926.1053 · Indiana
Ladders (Construction) Requirements in Indiana
Ladders (Construction) in Indiana: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
IndianaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA)State-set maximums
In FY2025, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 30 times in Indiana construction (7.3% of its construction citations there, the 3rd most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1053(b)(1) with 18 citations.
30
1926.1053 citations in Indiana construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in Indiana (18 citations)
7.6
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Indiana, 2024 (BLS)
Indiana 29 CFR 1926.1053 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-0830
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1053 (FY2025)
$14,740
penalties for this standard
7.3%
of the state's 411 construction citations
In FY2025, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 30 times on Indiana construction jobsites with $14,740 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 7.3% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it third on Indiana's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Indiana's own rule says
Ladders are federal text in Indiana, with no state amendment. The Act's structure is the thing to understand: standards arrive by incorporation under section 15, section 15.1 provides for other standards, section 16.1 for emergency temporary standards, and section 17.1 sets criteria for standards. Where a state like Oregon or Michigan would put its variation in a numbered rule you can read, Indiana's variation, if any, lives in the statute and in the commissioner's statement of enforceable standards.
29 CFR 1926.1053 as applied in Indiana under IC 22-8-1.1-15The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Falls and work deaths in Indiana, 2024
Indiana recorded 135 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 157 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 12 of them (9%). Construction accounted for 19.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Indiana, 2024
How Indiana Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053
Indiana runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Indiana'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 applied in Indiana under IC 22-8-1.1-15. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 30 times in Indiana construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Indiana also sets its own civil-penalty maximums, below the federal baseline (see the penalty table below).
In Indiana, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 went most often to Roofing Contractors (9) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (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 Indiana State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Indiana
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Indiana, the program is INSafe (Indiana Department of Labor). 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.
Indiana Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1053 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $7,000 | Indiana state maximum |
| Willful | $70,000 | Indiana state maximum |
| Repeat | $70,000 | Indiana state maximum |
| Failure to abate | $7,000/day | Indiana state maximum per day |
Indiana (IC 22-8-1.1-27.1) sets its own maximums below the federal amounts: serious up to $7,000; a knowing (Indiana's term for willful) or repeat violation up to $70,000, rising to $132,598 only when a knowing violation contributed to a worker's death. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) 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 Indiana: Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) 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 Indiana, FY2025
Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) issued 30 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Indiana construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $7,000.
- 1
1926.1053(b)(1) 18 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)(13) 5 citations
“The top or top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.”
- 3
1926.1053(b)(4) 4 citations
“Ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.”
- 4
1926.1053(b)(16) 2 citations
“Portable ladders with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or …”
- 5
1926.1053(b)(14) 1 citation
“Cross-bracing on the rear section of stepladders shall not be used for climbing unless the ladders are designed and provided with steps for climbing on both front and …”
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
Indiana Safety & Enforcement Profile
411
FY2025 construction citations
Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Indiana, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (75), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (69) and Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (47), out of 503 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1053 in Indiana, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (9), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (3) and Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (3), of 30 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Indiana, 2024: 7.6 per 100,000 full-time workers, 31st highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 4.3).
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 Indiana
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1926.1053 violations in Indiana in 2026?
In Indiana, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1053 carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation, and a willful or repeat violation up to $70,000. Indiana sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline. Indiana (IC 22-8-1.1-27.1) sets its own maximums below the federal amounts: serious up to $7,000; a knowing (Indiana's term for willful) or repeat violation up to $70,000, rising to $132,598 only when a knowing violation contributed to a worker's death. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: IC 22-8-1.1-27.1; verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Indiana construction trades are cited most under Ladders (Construction)?
In FY2025, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) issued 30 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Indiana construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (9), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (3) and Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (3) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) issued 411 construction citations across 205 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 Indiana jobsites?
In FY2025, Indiana's state plan (Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA)) issued 411 construction citations across 205 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Ladders (Construction) can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Indiana's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces ladder rules (1926.1053) on Indiana construction sites?
IOSHA, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not federal OSHA. Indiana runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 29 CFR 1926.1053, 30 times in FY2025 construction.
Can I get free OSHA help in Indiana without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Indiana is INSafe (Indiana Department of Labor). 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 Indiana cite 29 CFR 1926.1053 in construction?
In FY2025, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 30 times on Indiana construction jobsites, with $14,740 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 7.3% of the 411 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 Indiana
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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