In Montana, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.451 (Scaffolding) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Scaffolding is enforced for private construction employers by federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1926.451 · Montana
Scaffolding Requirements in Montana
Scaffolding in Montana: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.451, 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 1926.451 4 times in Montana construction (4.4% of its construction citations there, the 5th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.451(c)(2)(v) with 1 citation.
4
1926.451 citations in Montana construction, FY2025
(c)(2)(v)
paragraph cited most in Montana (1 citation)
5.8
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Montana, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in Montana: 29 CFR 1926.451, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-264
citations of 29 CFR 1926.451 in 2 inspections
$5,249
penalties, current amounts ($5,249 as first proposed)
4.4%
of the 91 federal construction citations in Montana
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.451 (Scaffolding) 4 times in inspections of Montana construction employers. It ranked fifth of the 14 standards cited in them. By classification: 4 serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1926.451(c)(2)(v) (1), 1926.451(g)(1) (1), 1926.451(e)(8) (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
What federal OSHA is targeting in Montana
Montana has no state OSHA plan for private-sector work, so there is no state rule to read. What differs here is which hazards federal OSHA schedules inspections for, as set out in published emphasis directives.
Regional Emphasis Program for Roadway Work Zone Activities
DEN-CPL-04-00-004 · Denver Regional Office · effective October 9, 2024
“This Instruction applies to all street and highway work zones within each Area Office's jurisdiction within the Denver Region.”
The Denver region targets street and highway work zones by NAICS 237310 (highway, street and bridge construction) to reduce serious injuries and fatalities during work zone activity. For a contractor in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota or South Dakota it means roadway work is selected for inspection on the nature of the site rather than on a reported hazard, and bridge and overpass work brings the fall and scaffold standards in with it.
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
How Montana Enforces 29 CFR 1926.451
Montana has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1926.451 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 1926.451 went most often to Roofing Contractors (4). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1926.451, 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 1926.451 (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 Scaffolding Requirements 29 CFR 1926.451
- Design to support 4x intended load
- Provide guardrails on open sides above 10 feet
- Inspect before each shift by competent person
- Train workers on scaffold hazards
- Ensure proper access (ladders, stairways)
- Follow requirements specific to scaffold type
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 1926.451 are on the 29 CFR 1926.451 page.
Most-Cited Scaffolding Paragraphs in Montana, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 4 citations under 29 CFR 1926.451 to Montana construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.451(c)(2)(v) 1 citation
“Fork-lifts shall not be used to support scaffold platforms unless the entire platform is attached to the fork and the fork-lift is not moved horizontally while the platform …”
- 2
1926.451(e)(8) 1 citation
“Direct access to or from another surface shall be used only when the scaffold is not more than 14 inches (36 cm) horizontally and not more than 24 …”
- 3
1926.451(f)(15) 1 citation
“Ladders shall not be used on scaffolds to increase the working level height of employees, except on large area scaffolds where employers have satisfied the following criteria:”
- 4
1926.451(g)(1) 1 citation
“Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level. Paragraphs (g)(1) (i) through …”
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 1926.451 in Montana, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (4), 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 Scaffolding Compliance Tools
Scaffolding FAQ for Montana
Which Montana construction trades are cited most under Scaffolding?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 4 citations under 29 CFR 1926.451 to Montana construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (4) (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 1926.451 on a recurring basis.
How often is Scaffolding 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 1926.451 (HazComFast count). A Scaffolding citation in Montana can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Montana's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces scaffolding 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 scaffolding under 29 CFR 1926.451, 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 1926.451 in Montana construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.451 (Scaffolding) 4 times in 2 inspections of Montana construction employers, with $5,249 in penalties at current amounts ($5,249 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.)
Scaffolding Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Related standards
Scaffolding in Other States
8 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.451 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska29 CFR 1926.451 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1145 for exposuresCalifornia8 CCR §1637, with railings under §1621(a)own maxHawaiiHAR §12-110-50(b), with the fall restraint anchorage rule at (b)(2)Maryland29 CFR 1926.451 as adopted by COMAR 09.12.31.01, with COMAR 09.12.32.04own maxMichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 12, R 408.41201, with R 408.41210(2)own maxNevadaNAC 618.507, with the construction project definition at NAC 618.494Oregon29 CFR 1926.451 as adopted, plus OAR 437-003-0071, -0073 and -0074own maxUtah29 CFR 1926.451 as incorporated by R614-1-4.A.4, with R614-1-5.C.3 and C.4own 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.
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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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