In North Dakota, 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 · North Dakota
Ladders (Construction) Requirements in North Dakota
Ladders (Construction) in North Dakota: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
North DakotaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 15 times in North Dakota construction (10.3% of its construction citations there, the 3rd most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1053(b)(1) with 12 citations.
15
1926.1053 citations in North Dakota construction, FY2025
(b)(1)
paragraph cited most in North Dakota (12 citations)
6.8
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, North Dakota, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in North Dakota: 29 CFR 1926.1053, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-2615
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1053 in 12 inspections
$94,752
penalties, current amounts ($99,727 as first proposed)
10.3%
of the 146 federal construction citations in North Dakota
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 15 times in inspections of North Dakota construction employers. It ranked third of the 25 standards cited in them. By classification: 7 serious, 3 repeat, 5 other-than-serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1926.1053(b)(1) (12), 1926.1053(b)(4) (1), 1926.1053(b)(16) (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 North Dakota, 2024
North Dakota recorded 28 fatal work injuries in 2024, up from 26 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 5 of them (18%). Construction accounted for 3, 1 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, North Dakota, 2024
Ladders (Construction) Cases in North Dakota
Leingang Group, Inc.
$26,127 initial - $13,064 finalBismarck, North Dakota - residential siding injuries · 2018
On May 8, 2018, two workers installing metal siding on a house were working from a makeshift scaffold when it tipped over. Both fell five feet; one was hospitalized with a fractured leg, the other treated for a sprained ankle. The ladder citations go to how the platform was improvised: 1926.1053(b)(4), ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed, and (b)(6), ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental displacement. Scaffold citations under 1926.451(a)(6) and (g)(1) and a late-reporting citation under 1904.39(a)(2) came with them. All three citations stayed on the record, with penalties cut from $26,127 to $13,064.
OSHA inspection 1323662.015 (Referral) - OSHA Establishment SearchHow North Dakota Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1053
North Dakota 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 North Dakota, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 went most often to Roofing Contractors (9) and Framing Contractors (6). 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 North Dakota
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In North Dakota, the program is Continuing Education, Training and Innovation (North Dakota Occupational Safety and Health). 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.
North Dakota consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Bismarck Area Office (Bismarck).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
North Dakota 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) |
North Dakota 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 North Dakota: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; North Dakota 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 North Dakota, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 15 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to North Dakota 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) 12 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)(15) 1 citation
“Ladders shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.”
- 3
1926.1053(b)(16) 1 citation
“Portable ladders with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or …”
- 4
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
North Dakota Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
146 of them in North Dakota (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in North Dakota, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (48), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (26) and Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (20), out of 178 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1053 in North Dakota, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (9) and Framing Contractors (6), of 15 citations.
- Fatal injury rate in North Dakota, 2024: 6.8 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 North Dakota
Which North Dakota construction trades are cited most under Ladders (Construction)?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 15 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1053 to North Dakota construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (9) and Framing Contractors (6) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since North Dakota has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 146 citations across 82 inspections of North Dakota 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 North Dakota jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break North Dakota out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 146 citations across 82 inspections of North Dakota construction employers, 15 of them under 29 CFR 1926.1053 (HazComFast count). A Ladders (Construction) citation in North Dakota can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. North Dakota's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces ladder rules on North Dakota construction sites?
Federal OSHA, not a state agency. North Dakota 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 North Dakota without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in North Dakota is Continuing Education, Training and Innovation (North Dakota Occupational Safety and Health). 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 North Dakota construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1053 (Ladders (Construction)) 15 times in 12 inspections of North Dakota construction employers, with $94,752 in penalties at current amounts ($99,727 as first proposed), 10.3% of the 146 citations those inspections produced. It ranked third of the 25 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 North Dakota
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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