In Texas, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Stairways (Construction) is enforced for private construction employers by federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1926.1052 · Texas
Stairways (Construction) Requirements in Texas
Stairways (Construction) in Texas: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1926.1052, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
TexasConstruction (29 CFR 1926)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 14 times in Texas construction (0.5% of its construction citations there, the 27th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1926.1052(c)(1)(ii) with 7 citations.
14
1926.1052 citations in Texas construction, FY2025
(c)(1)(ii)
paragraph cited most in Texas (7 citations)
9.5
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Texas, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in Texas: 29 CFR 1926.1052, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-2614
citations of 29 CFR 1926.1052 in 12 inspections
$48,809
penalties, current amounts ($55,125 as first proposed)
0.5%
of the 3,040 federal construction citations in Texas
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 14 times in inspections of Texas construction employers. It ranked 27th of the 105 standards cited in them. By classification: 13 serious, 1 repeat. Most-cited paragraphs: 1926.1052(c)(1)(ii) (7), 1926.1052(c)(1)(i) (4), 1926.1052(c)(12) (2).
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 Texas
Texas 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 Construction
DAL-CPL-04-00-001 · Dallas Regional Office · effective October 4, 2024
“This Instruction applies to all worksites in Oklahoma, and Texas, and those worksites in New Mexico that are under Federal OSHA jurisdiction.”
Construction across the whole of Oklahoma and Texas is programmed for inspection, targeting NAICS 236, 237 and 238: building construction, heavy and civil engineering, and the specialty trades. Neither state runs its own OSHA plan, so this directive is the closest thing either has to a state-level construction enforcement policy.
Regional Emphasis Program for Fall Hazards in Non-Construction
CPL 2 02-00-024B · Dallas Regional Office · effective January 1, 2023
“This Notice applies to all worksites in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, and those worksites in New Mexico that are under Federal OSHA jurisdiction.”
This one is worth reading for what it is not. Fall protection outside construction is programmed separately across the same four states, which means a fall in a warehouse, a plant or a yard is judged against the general industry walking-working surfaces rules in Subpart D, not against 1926.501, and the trigger heights, criteria and citation all differ. Knowing which side of that line the work falls on is the whole question when a job mixes construction and maintenance.
Falls and work deaths in Texas, 2024
Texas recorded 557 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 564 in 2023. Falls, slips and trips caused 77 of them (14%). Construction accounted for 128, 40 of them from falls, slips and trips.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Texas, 2024
How Texas Enforces 29 CFR 1926.1052
Texas has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1926.1052 is enforced by U.S. Department of Labor compliance officers using standard federal procedures and the federal penalty maximums.
In Texas, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 went most often to Framing Contractors (11) and Finish Carpentry Contractors (2). 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.
Help and oversight in Texas
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Texas, the program is Texas OSHA Consultation (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation). 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 Austin Area Office (Austin), the Corpus Christi Area Office (Corpus Christi), the Dallas Area Office (Richardson), the El Paso Area Office (El Paso), the Fort Worth Area Office (Fort Worth), the Houston North Area Office (Conroe), the Houston South Area Office (Houston), the Lubbock Area Office (Lubbock) and the San Antonio Area Office (San Antonio).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Texas Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1926.1052 (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) |
Texas 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 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 Texas: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; Texas has no State Plan.
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 Texas, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 14 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to Texas construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1926.1052(c)(1)(ii) 7 citations
“One stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge.”
- 2
1926.1052(c)(1)(i) 4 citations
“At least one handrail; and”
- 3
1926.1052(c)(12) 2 citations
“Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings shall be provided with guardrail systems. Guardrail system criteria are contained in subpart M of this part.”
- 4
1926.1052(c)(1) 1 citation
“Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, shall be equipped with:”
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
Texas Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
3,040 of them in Texas (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Texas, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (502), Framing Contractors (475) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (196), out of 2,231 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1926.1052 in Texas, FY2025: Framing Contractors (11), Finish Carpentry Contractors (2) and Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (1), of 14 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Texas, 2024: 9.5 per 100,000 full-time workers, 18th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 3.9).
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 Texas
Which Texas construction trades are cited most under Stairways (Construction)?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 14 citations under 29 CFR 1926.1052 to Texas construction employers, most often to Framing Contractors (11), Finish Carpentry Contractors (2) and Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since Texas has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 3,040 citations across 1,339 inspections of Texas construction employers in FY2025 (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data). Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1926.1052 on a recurring basis.
How often is Stairways (Construction) cited on Texas jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break Texas out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 3,040 citations across 1,339 inspections of Texas construction employers, 14 of them under 29 CFR 1926.1052 (HazComFast count). A Stairways (Construction) citation in Texas can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Texas's fatality figures are shown above.
When does OSHA require handrails on a Texas 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 Texas these requirements are enforced by federal OSHA at the federal penalty maximums.
Who enforces stairway rules (1926.1052) in Texas?
Federal OSHA. With no State Plan in Texas, a compliance officer from OSHA's Dallas region inspects and cites 1926.1052 directly.
Can I get free OSHA help in Texas without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Texas is Texas OSHA Consultation (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation). 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 1926.1052 in Texas construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1926.1052 (Stairways (Construction)) 14 times in 12 inspections of Texas construction employers, with $48,809 in penalties at current amounts ($55,125 as first proposed), 0.5% of the 3,040 citations those inspections produced. It ranked 27th of the 105 standards cited. (HazComFast count from U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement data, retrieved 2026-09-26.)
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 Texas
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.
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