29 CFR 1926.502 · Michigan · FY2025
Fall Protection Systems Criteria in Michigan: FY2025 OSHA citations
46 citation items under 29 CFR 1926.502 at inspected sites in Michigan, from 36 inspections.
From Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, the Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data record 46 citation items under 29 CFR 1926.502 at inspected sites in Michigan, in 36 inspections. Among the 78 sections of 29 CFR parts 1904, 1910 and 1926 cited in Michigan that year (3,994 citation items in all), this one ranks 20th by items. These counts describe inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Paragraphs of 29 CFR 1926.502 cited in Michigan
| Paragraph | Items | Share of the 46 |
|---|---|---|
| 1926.502(f)(1)(iii) | 9 | 20% |
| 1926.502(b)(1) | 6 | 13% |
| 1926.502(f)(1) | 5 | 11% |
| 1926.502(i)(3) | 5 | 11% |
| 1926.502(i)(4) | 5 | 11% |
16 different paragraphs were cited in all; the table lists the 5 with the most items.
“(iii) Points of access, materials handling areas, storage areas, and hoisting areas shall be connected to the work area by an access path formed by two warning lines.”
“(1) Top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level. When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of this paragraph. When employees are using stilts, the top edge height of the top rail, or equivalent member, shall be increased an amount equal to the height of the stilts.”
“(1) The warning line shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area. (i) When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the roof edge. (ii) When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the roof edge which is parallel to the direction of mechanical equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet (3.1 m) from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation. (iii) Points of access, materials handling areas, storage areas, and hoisting areas shall be connected to the …”
The paragraph continues in the standard. Read 29 CFR 1926.502
How the Michigan citations were classified
Of the 46 citation items: 36 serious, 0 willful, 0 repeat and 10 other-than-serious (78% serious).
Who was inspected in Michigan
94% of the 36 inspections with a recorded headcount were at sites with 1 to 10 employees. The headcount is the inspected site's, not the employer's total.
| 1 to 10 | 34 |
| 11 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 100 | 1 |
| Construction | 46 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 24 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 10 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 4 |
When the items were issued
By quarter of FY2025: Oct to Dec 2024: 13; Jan to Mar 2025: 7; Apr to Jun 2025: 8; Jul to Sep 2025: 18.
Who enforced in Michigan
Michigan has an OSHA-approved State Plan that ordinarily covers private-sector employers and state and local government workers. All 46 of the items were recorded by the State Plan's office. A State Plan may have standards of its own. The paragraphs on this page are the federal 29 CFR numbers recorded in OSHA's data, and this page does not say which Michigan rule applies to a given workplace. OSHA's page on the Michigan State Plan, with its coverage.
Michigan against the other states
Michigan ranks 8th of the 49 states and territories with items under 29 CFR 1926.502 in this data. The most items: Maryland 190; Illinois 155; Massachusetts 69; Oregon 69; Virginia 65. In all, the data record 1,229 citation items under 29 CFR 1926.502; the 46 in Michigan are 3.7% of them. Penalty maximums: OSHA penalties in Michigan.
Next steps for a Michigan employer
- Federal text of the standard: 29 CFR 1926.502, Fall Protection Systems Criteria
- Free tool: Fall Protection Plan Builder
- Free tool: PPE Selector
- Free tool: OSHA Fine Calculator
- Software: HazComFast for construction contractors
Counts by HazComFast from the Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data, extracted Oct 13, 2026; deleted items left out, 29 CFR numbers only. They are not figures OSHA publishes for the state, and the live database can change them. Same data source and method as our HazCom enforcement study. Not legal advice.