In Oregon, a serious Fall Protection violation carries a maximum penalty of $17,004 per violation in 2026, rising to $170,046 for a willful or repeat violation. Fall Protection is enforced for private construction employers by Oregon OSHA, under OAR 437-003-1501 (with 437-003-2501 and 437-003-0503) rather than 29 CFR 1926.501. Oregon sets its own maximums, above the federal baseline.
29 CFR 1926.501 · Oregon
Fall Protection Requirements in Oregon
Fall Protection in Oregon: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.501, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
OregonConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: Oregon OSHAState-set maximums
Oregon OSHA issued no citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 to Oregon construction employers in FY2025: on this subject the state enforces OAR 437-003-1501 (with 437-003-2501 and 437-003-0503).
0
1926.501 citations in Oregon construction, FY2025
(b)(13)
paragraph federal OSHA cited most nationwide (5,142 citations)
5.8
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Oregon, 2024 (BLS)
What Oregon's own rule says
“29 CFR 1926.501 Duty to have fall protection, repealed with AO 1-2016 … In Oregon 437-003-1501 applies.”
Oregon repealed the most-cited construction standard in the United States. 29 CFR 1926.501(a) and (b) do not apply here: Oregon OSHA replaced them with OAR 437-003-1501, split the falling-objects duty out into 437-003-2501, and repealed the federal training section 1926.503 in favor of 437-003-0503. The obligation itself is unchanged: 437-003-1501(1) still triggers at a fall hazard of "6 feet or more to a lower level", and still points at the 1926.502 criteria. What changes is the number an Oregon inspector writes on the citation, and the number your written program should carry. A fall-protection plan citing only 1926.501 is citing a section Oregon repealed in 2017.
OAR 437-003-1501 (with 437-003-2501 and 437-003-0503)The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Falls and work deaths in Oregon, 2024
Oregon recorded 52 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 54 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 7 of them (13%). Construction accounted for 8.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Oregon, 2024
How Oregon Enforces Fall Protection
Oregon runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Oregon OSHA, which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Oregon's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is OAR 437-003-1501 (with 437-003-2501 and 437-003-0503). Oregon OSHA issued no citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 in Oregon construction in FY2025. Oregon also sets its own civil-penalty maximums, above the federal baseline (see the penalty table below).
A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1926.501, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Oregon State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Oregon
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Oregon, the program is Oregon OSHA Consultation Services (Department of Consumer & Business Services). 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.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Oregon Penalty Amounts for Fall Protection (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $17,004 | Oregon state maximum |
| Willful | $170,046 | Oregon state maximum |
| Repeat | $170,046 | Oregon state maximum |
| Failure to abate | State schedule | Oregon publishes its own failure-to-abate amount; see the state schedule |
Oregon OSHA sets its own maximums (ORS 654.086(4), OAR 437-001-0142; adjusted annually by Bulletin 1-2026, effective Jan 1, 2026): serious up to $17,004; willful/repeat up to $170,046. Where a violation caused or contributed to a work-related death, Oregon sets a mandatory minimum as well as a higher ceiling, and the two differ by violation class: a serious violation carries $21,765 to $54,412, and a repeat or willful violation carries $54,412 to $272,058 (Bulletin 1-2026 penalty tables). A willful or repeat violation that caused or contributed to a death has its own tier: up to $272,058 in 2026 (Bulletin 1-2026). Amounts are ceilings per violation. Oregon OSHA computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Fall Protection Requirements Under the Federal Standard 29 CFR 1926.501
- Provide fall protection at 6 feet above a lower level: a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system
- Protect workers at unprotected sides/edges, leading edges, hoist areas, ramps, and excavation edges (1926.501(b))
- Cover or guard every floor hole and skylight: protection from falling through above 6 ft, and from stepping in at any height
- Related duties under neighboring standards: system criteria 1926.502, training 1926.503, scaffold fall protection 1926.451(g)
Who enforces it in Oregon: Oregon OSHA inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Oregon OSHA 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 1926.501 are on the 29 CFR 1926.501 page.
Fall Protection Citations in Oregon, FY2025
Oregon OSHA issued no citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 to Oregon construction employers in FY2025. On this subject the state's rule is OAR 437-003-1501 (with 437-003-2501 and 437-003-0503). For reference, the paragraphs federal OSHA cited most nationwide:
Federal OSHA, construction, FY2025: 6,778 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501.
- 1
1926.501(b)(13) Residential construction. 5,142 citations
“Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall …”
- 2
1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges. 619 citations
“Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level …”
- 3
1926.501(b)(10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs. 409 citations
“Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) …”
- 4
1926.501(b)(11) Steep roofs. 311 citations
“Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems …”
- 5
1926.501(b)(4)(ii) 68 citations
“Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers.”
- 6
1926.501(b)(4)(i) 65 citations
“Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, …”
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: every federal OSHA citation issued in FY2025 to a construction employer (NAICS 23), by the paragraph cited. Paragraph text: eCFR, current as of September 24, 2026. data.dol.gov
Oregon Safety & Enforcement Profile
1,752
FY2025 construction citations
Oregon OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Oregon, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (264), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (246) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (81), out of 1,207 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Construction fatality rate in Oregon, 2024: 5.8 per 100,000 full-time workers, 40th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 2.6).
- Oregon OSHA's permanent heat illness prevention rule, OAR 437-002-0156, took effect June 15, 2022. It is triggered when the heat index equals or exceeds 80°F, indoors or outdoors. (OAR 437-002-0156(1) and its history note (OSHA 3-2022))
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. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Fall Protection Compliance Tools
Fall Protection FAQ for Oregon
What are the penalties for Fall Protection violations in Oregon in 2026?
In Oregon, a serious Fall Protection violation carries a maximum penalty of $17,004 per violation, and a willful or repeat violation up to $170,046. Oregon sets its own maximums, above the federal baseline. Oregon OSHA sets its own maximums (ORS 654.086(4), OAR 437-001-0142; adjusted annually by Bulletin 1-2026, effective Jan 1, 2026): serious up to $17,004; willful/repeat up to $170,046. Where a violation caused or contributed to a work-related death, Oregon sets a mandatory minimum as well as a higher ceiling, and the two differ by violation class: a serious violation carries $21,765 to $54,412, and a repeat or willful violation carries $54,412 to $272,058 (Bulletin 1-2026 penalty tables). A willful or repeat violation that caused or contributed to a death has its own tier: up to $272,058 in 2026 (Bulletin 1-2026). Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: ORS 654.086(4) + OAR 437-001-0142; verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Oregon construction trades are inspected most?
The construction trades inspected most in Oregon in FY2025 were Roofing Contractors (264), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (246) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (81), out of 1,207 inspections opened, federal OSHA and State Plan combined (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data). Oregon OSHA issued no citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 to Oregon construction employers that year. Oregon OSHA inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Oregon OSHA issued 1,752 construction citations across 729 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.501 on a recurring basis.
How often is Fall Protection cited on Oregon jobsites?
In FY2025, Oregon's state plan (Oregon OSHA) issued 1,752 construction citations across 729 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Fall Protection can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Oregon's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces fall protection on Oregon construction sites?
Oregon OSHA (OR-OSHA), a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, not federal OSHA. Oregon runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan and repealed 29 CFR 1926.501: fall protection is cited under OAR 437-003-1501, which still points to the 1926.502 criteria.
Why doesn't Oregon cite 1926.501 like other states?
Oregon repealed 29 CFR 1926.501 (Administrative Order 1-2016) and replaced it with OAR 437-003-1501, with the falling-objects duty in 437-003-2501 and training in 437-003-0503 instead of 1926.503. The duty is the same: 437-003-1501(1) still triggers at a fall hazard of 6 feet or more to a lower level and still points to the 1926.502 criteria. What changes is the number on the citation, and the number a written program should carry.
Can I get free OSHA help in Oregon without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Oregon is Oregon OSHA Consultation Services (Department of Consumer & Business Services). 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.
Fall Protection Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Related standards
Fall Protection in Other States
14 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.501 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1150 for steel erectionCalifornia8 CCR §1670(a), with §1621(a) for railings and §1730 for roofingown maxHawaiiHAR §12-110-3, with the definition of "infeasible" at §12-110-50(b)(1)Kentucky803 KAR 2:412own maxMaryland29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by COMAR 09.12.31.01, with COMAR 09.12.32.07own maxMichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 45, R 408.44501 to R 408.44502own maxMinnesota29 CFR 1926.501 as adopted by Minn. R. 5205.0010, subp. 6, with Minn. R. 5207.0250NevadaNRS 618.983 and NRS 618.987 (mandatory OSHA-10 and OSHA-30)
Other OSHA Standards in Oregon
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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Serious violation, Oregon
$17,004
per violation (max)
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