In Maryland, 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 Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH). Maryland sets its own maximums, equal to the federal baseline.
29 CFR 1926.1053 · Maryland
Ladders (Construction) Requirements in Maryland
Ladders (Construction) in Maryland: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
MarylandConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)State-set maximums
In FY2025, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 390 times in Maryland construction (9.4% of its construction citations there, the 4th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1053(b)(1) with 232 citations.
390
1926.1053 citations in Maryland construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in Maryland (232 citations)
7.6
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Maryland, 2024 (BLS)
Maryland 29 CFR 1926.1053 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-08390
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1053 (FY2025)
$376,139
penalties for this standard
9.4%
of the state's 4,132 construction citations
In FY2025, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 390 times on Maryland construction jobsites with $376,139 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 9.4% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it fourth on Maryland's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Maryland's own rule says
Ladders are adopted federal text in Maryland. The three-foot extension above the landing, the load ratings and the training duties are all the federal ones, and Maryland did not add a ladder rule of its own. When checking whether a later federal ladder amendment applies here, the answer is in COMAR 09.12.31.01: Maryland adopts named Federal Register notices with individual state effective dates, so a change that is current on osha.gov is in force in Maryland only once it appears on that list.
29 CFR 1926.1053 as adopted by COMAR 09.12.31.01The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Read in Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-08
Falls and work deaths in Maryland, 2024
Maryland recorded 93 fatal work injuries in 2024, up from 69 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 10 of them (11%). Construction accounted for 18, 3 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Maryland, 2024
How Maryland Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053
Maryland runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Maryland'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 COMAR 09.12.31.01. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 390 times in Maryland construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Maryland also sets its own civil-penalty maximums, equal to the federal baseline (see the penalty table below).
In Maryland, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 went most often to Framing Contractors (170) and Roofing Contractors (148). 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 Maryland State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Maryland
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Maryland, the program is MOSH Consultation Services (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). 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.
Maryland Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1053 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Maryland state maximum |
| Willful | $165,514 | Maryland state maximum |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Maryland state maximum |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | Maryland state maximum per day |
Maryland sets its penalties under Labor and Employment §5-810, and the Commissioner of Labor and Industry adjusts them each July 15 on the CPI-U. MOSH's current amounts, effective July 15, 2025: up to $16,550 per violation, up to $16,550 for each day a violation is not corrected, up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation, and a minimum of $16,550 per willful violation. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) 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 Maryland: Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) 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 Maryland, FY2025
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) issued 390 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Maryland 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) 232 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) 72 citations
“The top or top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.”
- 3
1926.1053(b)(4) 35 citations
“Ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.”
- 4
1926.1053(b)(16) 17 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)(5)(i) 16 citations
“Non-self-supporting ladders shall be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter of the …”
- 6
1926.1053(b)(6) 7 citations
“Ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental displacement.”
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
Maryland Safety & Enforcement Profile
4,132
FY2025 construction citations
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Maryland, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (274), Framing Contractors (149) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (63), out of 798 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1053 in Maryland, FY2025: Framing Contractors (170), Roofing Contractors (148) and Siding Contractors (28), of 390 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Maryland, 2024: 7.6 per 100,000 full-time workers, 31st highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 3.2).
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 Maryland
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1926.1053 violations in Maryland in 2026?
In Maryland, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1053 carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation, and a willful or repeat violation up to $165,514. Maryland sets its own maximums, equal to the federal baseline. Maryland sets its penalties under Labor and Employment §5-810, and the Commissioner of Labor and Industry adjusts them each July 15 on the CPI-U. MOSH's current amounts, effective July 15, 2025: up to $16,550 per violation, up to $16,550 for each day a violation is not corrected, up to $165,514 per willful or repeated violation, and a minimum of $16,550 per willful violation. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. §5-810; verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Maryland construction trades are cited most under Ladders (Construction)?
In FY2025, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) issued 390 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Maryland construction employers, most often to Framing Contractors (170), Roofing Contractors (148) and Siding Contractors (28) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) issued 4,132 construction citations across 621 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 Maryland jobsites?
In FY2025, Maryland's state plan (Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)) issued 4,132 construction citations across 621 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Ladders (Construction) can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Maryland's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces ladder rules (1926.1053) on Maryland construction sites?
MOSH, the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health program, not federal OSHA. Maryland runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 29 CFR 1926.1053, 390 times in FY2025 construction.
Can I get free OSHA help in Maryland without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Maryland is MOSH Consultation Services (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). 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 Maryland cite 29 CFR 1926.1053 in construction?
In FY2025, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 390 times on Maryland construction jobsites, with $376,139 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 9.4% of the 4,132 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 Maryland
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.
Serious violation, Maryland
$16,550
per violation (max)
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