General industry and construction, side by side
The same question has two answers because OSHA writes two sets of rules. A shop, plant, warehouse or office follows 29 CFR part 1910. A construction jobsite follows 29 CFR part 1926.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| Unprotected sides and edges | Each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge 4 feet or more above a lower level is protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall protection systems.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i) | Each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) |
| Holes and skylights | Each employee is protected from falling through a hole, including a skylight, that is 4 feet or more above a lower level, by covers, guardrail systems, travel restraint systems or personal fall arrest systems.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3) | Each employee shall be protected from falling through holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers or guardrail systems erected around the hole.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(i) |
| Above dangerous equipment | An employee less than 4 feet above dangerous equipment is protected by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded. At 4 feet or more, the choices widen to safety nets and personal fall arrest systems.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6) | An employee less than 6 feet above dangerous equipment shall be protected by guardrail systems or equipment guards. At 6 feet or more, guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems or safety net systems.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(8) |
| Scaffolds | Each employee on a scaffold is protected from falling in accordance with part 1926, subpart L.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12) | Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level shall be protected from falling, with the type of protection set by the kind of scaffold.29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1) |
| Steel erection | Steel erection has its own subpart in the construction standards, part 1926 subpart R. The general industry paragraphs above do not set its trigger.29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1) | Each employee engaged in a steel erection activity on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet above a lower level shall be protected from fall hazards, except connectors and workers in controlled decking zones, who are covered by paragraphs (b) and (c).29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1) |
| Fixed ladders | Fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level get a personal fall arrest system, a ladder safety system, a cage or a well, depending on when the ladder was installed. From November 18, 2036, all of them need a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9) | Where the total length of a climb equals or exceeds 24 feet, fixed ladders shall be equipped with a ladder safety device, with self-retracting lifelines and rest platforms, or with a cage or well and multiple ladder sections.29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(19) |
| Residential construction and low-slope roofs | Where guardrails, nets or personal fall protection are infeasible or create a greater hazard on residential roofs, the employer develops a fall protection plan that meets 1926.502(k).29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(ii) | Residential construction and roofing on low-slope roofs, each at 6 feet or more above lower levels, have their own paragraphs, which name the systems allowed, including a fall protection plan where the paragraph permits one.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10) |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | The trigger depends on the kind of work, not on the industry label. A general industry employer working on a scaffold follows the scaffold paragraph of part 1926, and a construction employer erecting steel follows the 15-foot paragraph.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12) and 29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1) |
| Recommended practice | Many employers set a lower trigger than OSHA's, for example protection from any edge. That is a company rule, recommended and not required by the paragraphs above.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i) and 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) |
Does your state do it differently?
| State | Difference |
|---|---|
| California | Construction employees whose work exposes them to falling in excess of 7 1/2 feet from a structure perimeter, unprotected sides and edges, leading edges, shaftways and openings, or steep roofs wear approved personal fall arrest, restraint or positioning systems, unless otherwise protected under the Orders.8 CCR 1670(a). Source: Cal/OSHA, Construction Safety Orders, section 1670 |
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.28(b)(1)(i) | Unprotected sides and edges, 4 feet or more | 691 |
| 1910.28(b)(11)(ii) | Stair rails and handrails on stair flights | 113 |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(ii) | Holes less than 4 feet above a lower level | 99 |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(i) | Holes 4 feet or more above a lower level | 83 |
| 1910.28(b)(3)(iv) | 41 | |
| 1910.28(b)(6)(i) | 33 | |
| 1926.501(b)(13) | Residential construction, 6 feet or more | 6,039 |
| 1926.501(b)(1) | Unprotected sides and edges, 6 feet or more | 1,071 |
| 1926.501(b)(10) | Roofing work on low-slope roofs | 668 |
| 1926.501(b)(11) | Steep roofs | 586 |
| 1926.501(b)(4)(ii) | 253 | |
| 1926.501(b)(4)(i) | 139 |
1910.28: 1,315 citations in FY2025 at 1,162 inspections, 103 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.501: 9,087 citations in FY2025 at 8,775 inspections, 8,898 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Using the construction trigger in a warehouse. General industry starts lower, so a mezzanine edge that would pass on a jobsite can still be inside the rule.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i)
- Using the 6-foot trigger on a scaffold. The scaffold paragraph starts at more than 10 feet, and it sets the type of protection by the kind of scaffold.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) and 29 CFR 1926.451(g)(1)
- Reading the height as the height of the worker's feet above the ground. The paragraphs measure from the unprotected side or edge to a lower level, so a roof edge over a lower roof counts.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i) and 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
- Skipping the hole because it is small. A hole 4 feet or more above a lower level in general industry, or more than 6 feet in construction, needs a cover, a guardrail or personal fall protection.29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i) and 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(i)
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