General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Stairways (General Industry)

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.25

29 CFR 1910.25 sets the requirements for stairways in general industry: stairs must have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings, adequate strength to carry their loads, minimum clearances, and handrails and stair rail systems, so workers can use them without tripping or falling.

29 CFR 1910.25 at a glance

What it requires: Safe general-industry stairs: uniform risers/treads, handrails, strength, and clearance
Who it covers: General-industry employers
Uniformity rule: Stairs must have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings (1910.25(b)(3))
Key duty: Provide handrails and stair rails, uniform steps, and adequate strength and clearance
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: A single non-uniform riser is a fall hazard because people step by habit

What 29 CFR 1910.25 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.25 sets the requirements for standard, spiral, ship, and alternating tread-type stairs in general industry. It is part of Subpart D and works to make the stairways workers use every day safe by controlling their geometry, strength, and guarding.

Key requirements include that stairs be capable of supporting their intended loads, have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings, provide adequate vertical clearance and width, and, through the related handrail and stair-rail provisions of Subpart D, have handrails and stair rail systems where required. The uniformity requirement is central: people ascend and descend stairs by habit, so a single riser that differs in height is a trip-and-fall hazard.

1910.25 builds on the general walking-working-surfaces standard (1910.22) and works with the handrail and fall-protection criteria in 1910.28 and 1910.29. It parallels the construction stairway standard (1926.1052), which triggers stair-rail requirements at four risers or 30 inches of rise.

What the source requires, in summary

Stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings;

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3)Summarized, not quoted: read the source for its operative wording.

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.25

Stairs must have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings (1910.25(b)(3)).
Stairs must be capable of supporting their maximum intended loads.
Adequate vertical clearance and stair width are required.
Handrails and stair rail systems are required per the related Subpart D provisions.
Non-uniform risers are a leading trip-and-fall hazard because people step by habit.
It is part of Subpart D, building on the walking-working-surfaces standard (1910.22).
It parallels the construction stairway standard 1926.1052.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.25 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.25
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1910.25

#	Employer obligation
1	Stair treads must be uniform height and depth
2	Provide handrails on stairs with 4+ risers
3	Minimum width of 22 inches for standard stairs
4	Install stair rail systems on open sides

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.25. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Stairways (GI) violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.25 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Non-uniform riser heights or tread depths between landings (1910.25(b)(3)).
Missing handrails or stair rail systems: 1910.25 / 1910.28.
Inadequate stair width or vertical clearance (1910.25(b)).
Stairs not capable of supporting the intended load (1910.25(b)).
Damaged or deteriorated stair treads and surfaces: 1910.22 / 1910.25.

A single non-uniform riser is a real hazard: the body steps by habit

It is easy to dismiss one slightly taller or shorter riser as trivial, but 1910.25(b)(3) requires uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings for a reason. People climb and descend stairs on autopilot, their feet expecting each step to match the last. A single riser that differs (from a repair, a settled step, or an added platform) breaks that rhythm and causes a misstep and fall. Uniformity, along with handrails and adequate width, is what makes a stairway safe to use without conscious attention.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks that stair risers and treads are uniform between landings, that handrails and stair rails are present and at the correct height, that vertical clearance and width are adequate, and that stairs are in good repair. Uneven risers and missing handrails are the common findings.

Example: how a violation is cited

A worker descends a stairway where one riser is noticeably taller than the rest, misjudges the step, and falls. OSHA cites 1910.25(b) because stairs must have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Stairways (GI) compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.25. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Verify riser heights and tread depths are uniform between landings on every stairway.
Provide handrails and stair rail systems at the required heights.
Ensure adequate stair width and vertical clearance for the users.
Confirm stairs are structurally sound and can carry their intended loads.
Repair settled, worn, or damaged treads that create uneven steps.
Keep stair surfaces clean, dry, and slip-resistant per the walking-working-surfaces standard.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.25

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Stairway citations arise on routine general-industry inspections. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; uneven risers and missing handrails are the usual findings.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Stairways (GI) compliance

Stairs are used constantly, and the body climbs and descends them on autopilot, so an inconsistent riser or a missing handrail causes falls that uniform, well-guarded stairs would prevent. Stair falls cause fractures, head injuries, and worse, and the fixes are simple and permanent.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.25

Weekly Site Safety Inspection Inspection Action Plan Fall Protection Plan Builder

Stairways (GI) penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.25.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.25

What does OSHA require for general-industry stairs?

Under 1910.25, general-industry stairs must have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings, be capable of supporting their intended loads, provide adequate width and vertical clearance, and, through the related Subpart D provisions, have handrails and stair rail systems where required. These requirements control the geometry, strength, and guarding of the stairs workers use daily.

Why must stair risers be uniform?

Because people climb and descend stairs by habit, their feet expecting each step to match the previous one. Under 1910.25(b)(3), risers and treads must be uniform between landings so a worker does not misjudge a step. A single riser that differs (from a repair, settling, or an added step) breaks that expected rhythm and is a leading cause of stair falls.

Do general-industry stairs need handrails?

Yes, per the related Subpart D provisions. Stairways generally require handrails and, on open sides, stair rail systems at the heights specified in the Subpart D requirements. Handrails give workers a means to catch themselves and steady their descent or climb, which, with uniform risers and adequate width, is what makes a stairway safe.

What is the difference between 1910.25 and 1926.1052?

They are the stairway standards for their industries: 1910.25 for general industry and 1926.1052 for construction. Both require uniform risers and treads and stair rails/handrails. Construction's 1926.1052 sets an explicit trigger for stair rails at stairways of four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches, reflecting temporary jobsite stairs, while 1910.25 governs the permanent stairs of general-industry facilities.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.25

1910.25 was updated as part of OSHA's 2016 Walking-Working Surfaces final rule (81 FR 82494), which consolidated and modernized the general-industry stair requirements within Subpart D. Its uniform-riser-and-tread requirement has long been a core defense against the stair falls that consistent geometry prevents.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.25, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Fall Protection Guardrail System Competent Person Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Related guides & articles

Fall Protection Construction OSHA Guide 2026 OSHA Top 10 Most-Cited Violations 2026

Related OSHA standards

29 CFR 1910.22

Walking-Working Surfaces

29 CFR 1910.26

Dockboards

29 CFR 1926.501

Fall Protection

#1 most cited

29 CFR 1910.1200

HazCom / GHS

#2 most cited

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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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

$16,550

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