In New Hampshire, 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 · New Hampshire
Scaffolding Requirements in New Hampshire
Scaffolding in New Hampshire: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.451, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
New HampshireConstruction (29 CFR 1926)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.451 34 times in New Hampshire construction (9.1% of its construction citations there, the 3rd most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.451(g)(1) with 5 citations.
34
1926.451 citations in New Hampshire construction, FY2025
(g)(1)
paragraph cited most in New Hampshire (5 citations)
10.4
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, New Hampshire, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in New Hampshire: 29 CFR 1926.451, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-2634
citations of 29 CFR 1926.451 in 10 inspections
$27,291
penalties, current amounts ($54,090 as first proposed)
9.1%
of the 375 federal construction citations in New Hampshire
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.451 (Scaffolding) 34 times in inspections of New Hampshire construction employers. It ranked third of the 53 standards cited in them. By classification: 23 serious, 11 other-than-serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1926.451(g)(1) (5), 1926.451(b)(5)(ii) (4), 1926.451(b)(1) (3).
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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire 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 Local Emphasis Program for Residential Construction
BOS-CPL-04-00-030 · Boston Regional Office · effective October 1, 2024
“This instruction applies to Federal OSHA, Boston Region jurisdiction.”
Residential construction is scheduled for programmed inspection across the whole Boston region, and the directive names the industries it targets by NAICS: 236115 and 236116 for new single-family and multifamily housing, and the 238 specialty trade codes including framing, roofing, siding, masonry and drywall. A residential framing or roofing crew here is not waiting for a complaint to be inspected; it is on a targeting list.
Regional Local Emphasis Program Cranes in Construction
BOS-CPL-04-00-028 · Boston Regional Office · effective October 1, 2024
“This instruction applies to Federal OSHA, Boston Region jurisdiction.”
Cranes in construction carry a separate regional program here. It matters on scaffold and fall-protection work because a crane on site makes the whole project a candidate for a programmed inspection, and an inspection opened on the crane does not stop at the crane.
Falls and work deaths in New Hampshire, 2024
New Hampshire recorded 12 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 21 in 2023. BLS did not publish a separate 2024 count of deaths from falls, slips and trips for New Hampshire. Construction accounted for 5.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, New Hampshire, 2024
How New Hampshire Enforces 29 CFR 1926.451
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.451 went most often to Framing Contractors (16) and New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (9). 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 New Hampshire
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In New Hampshire, the program is WorkWISE NH (Keene State College). 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.
New Hampshire consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Concord Area Office (Concord).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
New Hampshire 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) |
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 34 citations under 29 CFR 1926.451 to New Hampshire construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.451(g)(1) 5 citations
“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 …”
- 2
1926.451(b)(5)(ii) 4 citations
“Each platform greater than 10 feet in length shall not extend over its support more than 18 inches (46 cm), unless it is designed and installed so that …”
- 3
1926.451(b)(1) 3 citations
“Each platform on all working levels of scaffolds shall be fully planked or decked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports as follows:”
- 4
1926.451(b)(4) 3 citations
“Each end of a platform, unless cleated or otherwise restrained by hooks or equivalent means, shall extend over the centerline of its support at least 6 inches (15 …”
- 5
1926.451(b)(7) 3 citations
“On scaffolds where platforms are overlapped to create a long platform, the overlap shall occur only over supports, and shall not be less than 12 inches (30 cm) …”
- 6
1926.451(a)(1) 2 citations
“Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5) and (g) of this section, each scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting, without failure, its own …”
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
New Hampshire Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
375 of them in New Hampshire (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in New Hampshire, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (46), Framing Contractors (20) and New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (11), out of 150 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.451 in New Hampshire, FY2025: Framing Contractors (16), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (9) and Roofing Contractors (6), of 34 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in New Hampshire, 2024: 10.4 per 100,000 full-time workers, 13th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 1.7).
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 New Hampshire
Which New Hampshire construction trades are cited most under Scaffolding?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 34 citations under 29 CFR 1926.451 to New Hampshire construction employers, most often to Framing Contractors (16), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (9) and Roofing Contractors (6) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since New Hampshire has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 375 citations across 85 inspections of New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break New Hampshire out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 375 citations across 85 inspections of New Hampshire construction employers, 34 of them under 29 CFR 1926.451 (HazComFast count). A Scaffolding citation in New Hampshire can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. New Hampshire's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces scaffolding rules on New Hampshire construction sites?
Federal OSHA, not a state agency. New Hampshire has no state plan, so federal compliance officers from OSHA's Boston region inspect and cite scaffolding under 29 CFR 1926.451, at federal penalty maximums.
Can I get free OSHA help in New Hampshire without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in New Hampshire is WorkWISE NH (Keene State College). 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 New Hampshire construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.451 (Scaffolding) 34 times in 10 inspections of New Hampshire construction employers, with $27,291 in penalties at current amounts ($54,090 as first proposed), 9.1% of the 375 citations those inspections produced. It ranked third of the 53 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 New Hampshire
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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