Duty to have fall protection
29 CFR § 1926.501
29 CFR § 1926.501 is the federal OSHA standard governing duty to have fall protection, setting mandatory construction industry employer duties, and Washington applies WAC 296-880-20005; WAC 296-880-30005 that compliance officers verify during workplace inspections and enforce through citations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Employers should document hazard assessments, training and inspections so each requirement can be demonstrated on request.
Statutory Comparison
| Requirement | Baseline Fed Code | State Rule | Enforced Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall hazards under the applicable Washington construction provisions | 29 CFR § 1926.501 | Washington requires protection at four feet for covered general fall hazards, while construction-specific provisions retain activity-dependent thresholds, including six feet for some roofing and leading-edge work and ten feet for some other tasks; this is not a universal four-foot construction trigger. | WAC 296-880-10020 - Fall Protection Work Plan (at 10 feet or more, subject to exception) |
Key Audit Items
| Citation | Audit condition | Metric | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR § 1926.501(b)(1) | Employees at an unprotected side or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level are protected by guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest | 6 feet | Critical |
| 29 CFR § 1926.501(b)(4) | Holes are covered or guarded against falls through and against objects falling | Covers or guardrails on all holes | Critical |
| 29 CFR § 1926.501(b)(10) | Roofing work on low-slope roofs uses an approved fall protection method | 6 feet | Critical |
Instant Download: Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) + Google Sheets Dual Format ($27)
Self-inspection workbook for 29 CFR § 1926.501 with Pass/Fail/N/A dropdowns and an automatic Audit Readiness Score.