In Minnesota, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Stairways (Construction) is enforced for private construction employers by Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA).
29 CFR 1926.1052 · Minnesota
Stairways (Construction) Requirements in Minnesota
Stairways (Construction) in Minnesota: 2026 penalties, who enforces Minn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
MinnesotaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA)
In FY2025, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 6 times in Minnesota construction (1.4% of its construction citations there, the 17th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1052(c)(1) with 5 citations.
6
1926.1052 citations in Minnesota construction, FY2025
(c)(1)
paragraph cited most in Minnesota (5 citations)
9.1
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Minnesota, 2024 (BLS)
Minnesota 29 CFR 1926.1052 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-086
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1052 (FY2025)
$2,595
penalties for this standard
1.4%
of the state's 435 construction citations
In FY2025, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 6 times on Minnesota construction jobsites with $2,595 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 1.4% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it 17th on Minnesota's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Minnesota's own rule says
“semifinished permanent stairways or temporary stairways to a second floor are to be in place before supports or structure to the sixth floor are raised. Similarly, the supports or structure on multifloored buildings shall never be more than five floors ahead of stairways.”
Minnesota adds a sequencing rule to the federal stairway requirements that has no counterpart in 1926 Subpart X: structure may never run more than five floors ahead of the stairways serving it. The rule is written as an addition, "in addition to the requirements of" the federal section, so 1926.1052 still applies in full, and the state rule sits on top of it. It is a scheduling constraint as much as a safety one, and it is the kind of requirement a general contractor discovers late if the project plan was built to federal rules alone.
Minn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4The duty itself differs from the federal text.
Read in Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-08
Falls and work deaths in Minnesota, 2024
Minnesota recorded 84 fatal work injuries in 2024, up from 70 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 20 of them (24%). Construction accounted for 18, 9 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Minnesota, 2024
How Minnesota Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1052
Minnesota runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Minnesota's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is Minn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4, which differs from the federal text (see the state rule above). Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 6 times in Minnesota construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Minnesota applies the federal penalty maximums.
In Minnesota, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 went most often to New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (2) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against Minn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Minnesota State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Minnesota
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Minnesota, the program is Workplace Safety Consultation (Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry). 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.
Minnesota consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Minnesota Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1052 (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) |
Minnesota applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Stairways (Construction) Requirements 29 CFR 1926.1052
- Build stairways at 30° to 50° angle
- Provide handrails on open sides above 30 inches
- Stair rails must be 36 inches high (from stair tread)
- Use uniform riser height and tread depth
- Install mid-rails or screens between top rail and stringer
Who enforces it in Minnesota: Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) 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 1926.1052 are on the 29 CFR 1926.1052 page.
Most-Cited Stairways (Construction) Paragraphs in Minnesota, FY2025
Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) issued 6 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to Minnesota construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.1052(c)(1) 5 citations
“Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, shall be equipped with:”
- 2
1926.1052(b)(1) 1 citation
“Except during stairway construction, foot traffic is prohibited on stairways with pan stairs where the treads and/or landings are to be filled in with concrete or other material …”
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
Minnesota Safety & Enforcement Profile
435
FY2025 construction citations
Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Minnesota, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (49), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (43) and Roofing Contractors (32), out of 266 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1052 in Minnesota, FY2025: New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (2), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2) and Framing Contractors (1), of 6 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Minnesota, 2024: 9.1 per 100,000 full-time workers, 21st highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 2.9).
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 Stairways (Construction) Compliance Tools
Stairways (Construction) FAQ for Minnesota
Which Minnesota construction trades are cited most under Stairways (Construction)?
In FY2025, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) issued 6 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to Minnesota construction employers, most often to New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (2), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2) and Framing Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) issued 435 construction citations across 178 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against Minn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4, Minnesota's own rule on this subject.
How often is Stairways (Construction) cited on Minnesota jobsites?
In FY2025, Minnesota's state plan (Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA)) issued 435 construction citations across 178 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Stairways (Construction) can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Minnesota's fatality figures are shown above.
When does MNOSHA require handrails on a Minnesota construction stairway?
Under 29 CFR 1926.1052(c)(1), a stairway with four or more risers, or rising more than 30 inches, whichever is less, must have at least one handrail and a stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge. In Minnesota these are enforced by MNOSHA, the state's own OSHA program.
Who enforces stairway rules (1926.1052) in Minnesota?
MNOSHA, Minnesota OSHA. Minnesota runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 1926.1052 on private jobsites.
Can I get free OSHA help in Minnesota without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Minnesota is Workplace Safety Consultation (Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry). 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 Minnesota cite 29 CFR 1926.1052 in construction?
In FY2025, Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 6 times on Minnesota construction jobsites, with $2,595 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 1.4% of the 435 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Stairways (Construction) Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Stairways (Construction) in Other States
8 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.1052 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1015 on postingArizona29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-601California8 CCR §1626own maxHawaii29 CFR 1926.1052 as incorporated by HAR §12-110-50(a), with §12-110-3(c)MichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 21, R 408.42127 to R 408.42157own maxNevadaNAC 618.505 and NAC 618.507Utah29 CFR 1926.1052 as incorporated by R614-1-4.A.4, with R614-1-5.D.5own maxWashingtonWAC 296-155-477
Other OSHA Standards in Minnesota
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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