In South Carolina, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation in 2026, rising to $70,000 for a willful or repeat violation. Stairways (Construction) is enforced for private construction employers by South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA). South Carolina sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline.
29 CFR 1926.1052 · South Carolina
Stairways (Construction) Requirements in South Carolina
Stairways (Construction) in South Carolina: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1052, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
South CarolinaConstruction (29 CFR 1926)State Plan: South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA)State-set maximums
In FY2025, South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 3 times in South Carolina construction (1.6% of its construction citations there, the 20th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1052(c)(1) with 2 citations.
3
1926.1052 citations in South Carolina construction, FY2025
(c)(1)
paragraph cited most in South Carolina (2 citations)
12.8
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, South Carolina, 2024 (BLS)
South Carolina 29 CFR 1926.1052 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-083
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1052 (FY2025)
$1,775
penalties for this standard
1.6%
of the state's 191 construction citations
In FY2025, South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 3 times on South Carolina construction jobsites with $1,775 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 1.6% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it 20th on South Carolina's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What South Carolina's own rule says
Stairways are federal text in South Carolina: 19 inches to trigger a stairway or ladder, 30 to 50 degrees of pitch, stairrails from four risers or a 30-inch rise. The state left Subpart X alone. The habit worth keeping here is reading the state's list of departures before assuming a federal section applies: South Carolina names six modifications for construction and seven for general industry, and three of the construction items are outright deletions of sections at the front of Part 1926 rather than changes to their wording.
29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by Subarticle 7The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Read in South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-08
Falls and work deaths in South Carolina, 2024
South Carolina recorded 103 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 112 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 15 of them (15%). Construction accounted for 24, 6 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, South Carolina, 2024
How South Carolina Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1052
South Carolina runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce South Carolina's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is 29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by Subarticle 7. South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 3 times in South Carolina construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). South Carolina also sets its own civil-penalty maximums, below the federal baseline (see the penalty table below).
In South Carolina, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 went most often to Framing Contractors (2) and Siding Contractors (1). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1926.1052, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the South Carolina State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in South Carolina
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In South Carolina, the program is Office of Outreach and Education/SC OSHA (South Carolina Department of Labor – Licensing and Regulation). 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.
South Carolina consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
South Carolina Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1052 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $7,000 | South Carolina state maximum |
| Willful | $70,000 | South Carolina state maximum |
| Repeat | $70,000 | South Carolina state maximum |
| Failure to abate | $7,000/day | South Carolina state maximum per day |
South Carolina (S.C. Code §41-15-320) sets its own maximums and has not adopted the post-2016 federal increases: serious and other-than-serious violations up to $7,000; willful or repeat violations up to $70,000; failure to correct up to $7,000 per day. Amounts are ceilings per violation. South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Stairways (Construction) Requirements 29 CFR 1926.1052
- Build stairways at 30° to 50° angle
- Provide handrails on open sides above 30 inches
- Stair rails must be 36 inches high (from stair tread)
- Use uniform riser height and tread depth
- Install mid-rails or screens between top rail and stringer
Who enforces it in South Carolina: South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. South Carolina OSHA (SC 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 1926.1052 are on the 29 CFR 1926.1052 page.
Most-Cited Stairways (Construction) Paragraphs in South Carolina, FY2025
South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) issued 3 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to South Carolina construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $7,000.
- 1
1926.1052(c)(1) 2 citations
“Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, shall be equipped with:”
- 2
1926.1052(c)(12) 1 citation
“Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings shall be provided with guardrail systems. Guardrail system criteria are contained in subpart M of this part.”
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
South Carolina Safety & Enforcement Profile
191
FY2025 construction citations
South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in South Carolina, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (102), Roofing Contractors (20) and Framing Contractors (16), out of 244 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1052 in South Carolina, FY2025: Framing Contractors (2) and Siding Contractors (1), of 3 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in South Carolina, 2024: 12.8 per 100,000 full-time workers, 8th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 4.5).
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 Stairways (Construction) Compliance Tools
Stairways (Construction) FAQ for South Carolina
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1926.1052 violations in South Carolina in 2026?
In South Carolina, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1052 carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation, and a willful or repeat violation up to $70,000. South Carolina sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline. South Carolina (S.C. Code §41-15-320) sets its own maximums and has not adopted the post-2016 federal increases: serious and other-than-serious violations up to $7,000; willful or repeat violations up to $70,000; failure to correct up to $7,000 per day. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: S.C. Code §41-15-320; verified 2026-10-05.)
Which South Carolina construction trades are cited most under Stairways (Construction)?
In FY2025, South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) issued 3 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to South Carolina construction employers, most often to Framing Contractors (2) and Siding Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) issued 191 construction citations across 115 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.1052 on a recurring basis.
How often is Stairways (Construction) cited on South Carolina jobsites?
In FY2025, South Carolina's state plan (South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA)) issued 191 construction citations across 115 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Stairways (Construction) can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. South Carolina's fatality figures are shown above.
When does SC OSHA require handrails on a construction stairway?
Under 29 CFR 1926.1052(c)(1), a stairway with four or more risers, or rising more than 30 inches, whichever is less, must have at least one handrail and a stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge. In South Carolina these are enforced by SC OSHA, a division of LLR.
Who enforces stairway rules (1926.1052) in South Carolina?
SC OSHA, South Carolina OSHA, a division of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. South Carolina runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 1926.1052 on private jobsites.
Can I get free OSHA help in South Carolina without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in South Carolina is Office of Outreach and Education/SC OSHA (South Carolina Department of Labor – Licensing and Regulation). 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 South Carolina cite 29 CFR 1926.1052 in construction?
In FY2025, South Carolina OSHA (SC OSHA) cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 3 times on South Carolina construction jobsites, with $1,775 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 1.6% of the 191 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Stairways (Construction) Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Stairways (Construction) in Other States
9 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1926.1052 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by 8 AAC 61.1010(c), with 8 AAC 61.1015 on postingArizona29 CFR 1926.1052 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-601California8 CCR §1626own maxHawaii29 CFR 1926.1052 as incorporated by HAR §12-110-50(a), with §12-110-3(c)MichiganMIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 21, R 408.42127 to R 408.42157own maxMinnesotaMinn. R. 5207.0250, subp. 4NevadaNAC 618.505 and NAC 618.507Utah29 CFR 1926.1052 as incorporated by R614-1-4.A.4, with R614-1-5.D.5own max
Other OSHA Standards in South Carolina
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.
Serious violation, South Carolina
$7,000
per violation (max)
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