General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Scaffolds and Rope Descent Systems (GI)

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.27

29 CFR 1910.27 covers scaffolds and rope descent systems (RDS) in general industry: used for building maintenance such as window washing. Before a rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer in writing that each anchorage has been identified, tested, certified, and maintained to support at least 5,000 pounds per worker, and RDS use is capped at 300 feet.

29 CFR 1910.27 at a glance

What it requires: Safe general-industry scaffolds and rope descent systems, with certified RDS anchorages
Who it covers: General-industry employers doing building maintenance (e.g., window washing) and scaffold work
Anchorage rule: The building owner must certify each RDS anchorage supports 5,000 lb per worker (1910.27(b)(1))
Key limit: Rope descent systems may not be used above 300 feet unless certain conditions are met
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: The employer needs the owner's WRITTEN anchorage certification before any RDS use

What 29 CFR 1910.27 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.27 sets requirements for scaffolds and rope descent systems used in general industry, most importantly for building maintenance such as window washing and facade work. It brings the suspended-access work done from rooftops under a clear, certification-based safety framework.

Its defining requirement addresses rope descent system (RDS) anchorages: before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer in writing that the owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds, in any direction, for each employee attached. Rope descent systems may not be used at heights above 300 feet unless the employer demonstrates it is not feasible or would create a greater hazard to use another system. Scaffolds used in general industry must meet the construction scaffold requirements incorporated by reference, and workers must have fall protection.

1910.27 was added by OSHA's 2016 Walking-Working Surfaces final rule and works with the fall-protection duty and criteria (1910.28 and 1910.29) and the personal fall protection systems standard (1910.140). It closed a long-standing gap by making the concealed rooftop anchorage, which the worker cannot inspect, a certified, documented part of the safety system.

The regulatory text

“Before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), in any direction, for each employee attached.”

29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)(i)

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.27

Before RDS use, the building owner must certify in writing that each anchorage supports at least 5,000 lb per worker (1910.27(b)(1)(i)).
Rope descent systems may not be used above 300 feet unless another system is infeasible or more hazardous.
The employer cannot use an RDS without the owner's written anchorage certification.
Scaffolds in general industry must meet the incorporated construction scaffold requirements.
Workers using an RDS must also have a personal fall arrest system.
It was added by OSHA's 2016 Walking-Working Surfaces rule.
It works with 1910.28, 1910.29, and 1910.140 (personal fall protection systems).

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.27 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.27
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 1910.27

#	Employer obligation
1	Ensure scaffold structural integrity
2	Inspect rope descent systems before each use
3	Train workers on safe use
4	Provide personal fall protection

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.27. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Scaffolds & Rope Descent (GI) violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.27 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.

Rope descent system used without the building owner's written anchorage certification (1910.27(b)(1)(i)).
Anchorage not certified to support 5,000 lb per worker (1910.27(b)(1)).
Rope descent system used above 300 feet without the required demonstration (1910.27(b)(2)).
No personal fall arrest system for the RDS worker: 1910.27(b) / 1910.140.
Scaffold not meeting the incorporated construction scaffold requirements (1910.27(a)).

The building owner must certify the anchorages in writing: first

The critical, often-missed requirement of 1910.27 is that the building owner, not the employer, must identify, test, certify, and maintain each rope descent system anchorage, and inform the employer of that in writing, before the RDS is used. This exists because the anchors are concealed in the building structure; the window-washing or maintenance employer cannot see inside a parapet or roof to know whether an anchor will hold. So the owner, who controls the building, must confirm in writing that each anchorage supports 5,000 pounds per worker. An employer that starts a rope-descent job on a rooftop without that written certification is trusting a worker's life to an unverified anchor, which the standard prohibits.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer asks for the building owner's written anchorage certification before any rope descent system work, checks that an RDS is not used above 300 feet, and verifies that scaffolds meet the applicable requirements and workers have fall protection. Using an RDS with no written anchorage certification is the classic finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A window-washing contractor begins a rope descent job with no written confirmation from the building owner that the roof anchorages were tested and certified. An uncertified anchor could fail under load. OSHA cites 1910.27(b)(1) because the owner must certify each anchorage supports 5,000 pounds before the RDS is used, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Scaffolds & Rope Descent (GI) compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.27. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Obtain the building owner's written certification that each RDS anchorage supports 5,000 lb per worker before starting.
Confirm the anchorages have been identified, tested, certified, and maintained by the owner.
Do not use a rope descent system above 300 feet unless the required infeasibility demonstration is made.
Equip each RDS worker with an independent personal fall arrest system.
Ensure any scaffolds meet the incorporated construction scaffold requirements.
Inspect the RDS equipment, rig it properly, and train workers on its use.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.27

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)

RDS and scaffold citations follow suspended-work incidents and inspections. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; missing anchorage certification is the highest-gravity finding.

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 Scaffolds & Rope Descent (GI) compliance

Rope descent systems suspend a worker on a rope from a rooftop anchorage, often many stories up, if the anchorage fails, the fall is fatal. The building-owner certification requirement exists because the employer cannot see or test the concealed anchors, so the owner must confirm in writing that each one has been tested and will hold before a worker trusts their life to it.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.27

Fall Protection Plan Builder Weekly Site Safety Inspection Job Hazard Analysis Builder

Scaffolds & Rope Descent (GI) penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.27.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.27

What must a building owner certify before a rope descent system is used?

Under 1910.27(b)(1)(i), before any rope descent system is used the building owner must inform the employer in writing that the owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds, in any direction, for each employee attached. The employer may not use the RDS without this written certification.

Is there a height limit for rope descent systems?

Yes. Under 1910.27(b), rope descent systems may not be used for heights greater than 300 feet above grade unless the employer demonstrates that it is not feasible to access the working surface another way, or that doing so would create a greater hazard. Above that height, other suspended-access or powered-platform systems are generally expected.

Why must the building owner, not the employer, certify RDS anchorages?

Because the anchorages are concealed in the building's structure and the maintenance or window-washing employer cannot see or test them. The building owner controls the building and its anchors, so 1910.27 places the duty on the owner to identify, test, certify, and maintain each anchorage and confirm it in writing. This ensures a worker is not suspended from a rooftop anchor of unknown strength.

Does a rope descent system worker also need fall protection?

Yes. Under 1910.27, a worker on a rope descent system must be protected by a personal fall arrest system that is independent of the RDS support line, so a failure of the descent line does not result in a fall. This, together with the certified anchorage and the 300-foot limit, is what makes suspended building-maintenance work survivable.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.27

1910.27 was created by OSHA's 2016 Walking-Working Surfaces final rule (81 FR 82494), effective January 17, 2017, formalizing requirements for rope descent systems used in building maintenance. Its building-owner anchorage-certification requirement closed a long-standing gap that had left window-washing and facade workers relying on concealed anchors of unknown strength.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.27, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Fall Protection Anchor Point Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)Competent Person

Related guides & articles

OSHA Scaffolding Requirements Complete Guide 2026 Fall Protection Construction OSHA Guide 2026

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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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