In Montana, 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 federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1926.1053 · Montana
Ladders (Construction) Requirements in Montana
Ladders (Construction) in Montana: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
MontanaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 4 times in Montana construction (4.4% of its construction citations there, the 5th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1053(b)(1) with 3 citations.
4
1926.1053 citations in Montana construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in Montana (3 citations)
5.8
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Montana, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in Montana: 29 CFR 1926.1053, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-264
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1053 in 4 inspections
$1,702
penalties, current amounts ($1,702 as first proposed)
4.4%
of the 91 federal construction citations in Montana
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 4 times in inspections of Montana construction employers. It ranked fifth of the 14 standards cited in them. By classification: 2 serious, 2 other-than-serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1926.1053(b)(1) (3), 1926.1053(b)(4) (1).
Counted by HazComFast from the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data (inspection and violation tables, retrieved September 26, 2026): citations issued October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 on federal OSHA inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) in the state, deleted citations excluded, penalties at current amounts. OSHA's own cited-standards tool does not break federal states out; summed over every state, this count matches it within a few citations (6,778 for 1926.501, against 6,772). data.dol.gov
Falls and work deaths in Montana, 2024
Montana recorded 31 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 38 in 2023. BLS did not publish a separate 2024 count of deaths from falls, slips and trips for Montana.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Montana, 2024
Ladders (Construction) Cases in Montana
Quality Seamless Gutters of Montana, Inc.
$2,487 initial - $1,865 finalHuson, Montana - residential electrocution · 2020
On December 21, 2020, two workers were installing snow stops along a house roof. One was moving a 24-foot aluminum extension ladder, run out to about 18 feet, from one side of the roof to the other when it contacted low-hanging energized power lines. He was electrocuted and declared dead at a hospital. The single citation was 1926.1053(b)(12), which requires ladders to have nonconductive siderails wherever the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.
OSHA inspection 1508021.015 (Fat/Cat), case closed - OSHA Establishment SearchHow Montana Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053
Montana has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1926.1053 is enforced by U.S. Department of Labor compliance officers using standard federal procedures and the federal penalty maximums.
In Montana, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 went most often to Roofing Contractors (2) and Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (1). 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.
Help and oversight in Montana
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Montana, the program is Montana Consultation Program (Montana Department of Labor & Industry - Safety & Health Bureau). 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.
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Billings Area Office (Billings).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Montana 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) |
Montana applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Federal OSHA reduces the proposed penalty for employer size, good faith and history (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch. 6). There was no inflation increase for 2026: the 2025 amounts remain in effect (OMB Memo M-26-11).
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 Montana: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; Montana has no State Plan.
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 Montana, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 4 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Montana 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) 3 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)(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
Montana Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
91 of them in Montana (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Montana, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (41), Framing Contractors (13) and Siding Contractors (9), out of 89 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1053 in Montana, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (2), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (1) and Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (1), of 4 citations.
- Fatal injury rate in Montana, 2024: 5.8 per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries. BLS did not publish a 2024 construction rate here.
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 Montana
Which Montana construction trades are cited most under Ladders (Construction)?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 4 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to Montana construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (2), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (1) and Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since Montana has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 91 citations across 62 inspections of Montana construction employers in FY2025 (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data). Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.1053 on a recurring basis.
How often is Ladders (Construction) cited on Montana jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break Montana out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 91 citations across 62 inspections of Montana construction employers, 4 of them under 29 CFR 1926.1053 (HazComFast count). A Ladders (Construction) citation in Montana can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Montana's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces ladder rules on Montana construction sites?
Federal OSHA, not a state agency. Montana has no state plan, so federal compliance officers from OSHA's Denver region inspect and cite ladder safety under 29 CFR 1926.1053, at federal penalty maximums.
Can I get free OSHA help in Montana without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Montana is Montana Consultation Program (Montana Department of Labor & Industry - Safety & Health Bureau). 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 federal OSHA cite 29 CFR 1926.1053 in Montana construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 4 times in 4 inspections of Montana construction employers, with $1,702 in penalties at current amounts ($1,702 as first proposed), 4.4% of the 91 citations those inspections produced. It ranked fifth of the 14 standards cited. (HazComFast count from U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement data, retrieved 2026-09-26.)
Ladders (Construction) Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Related standards
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 Montana
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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