Compliance Risk Index / OSHA
Scaffolds: Additional Requirements for Specific Types
29 CFR 1926.452
Data coverage: 2023-01-01 through 2026-07-30 · Source: US DOL Open Data Portal
1,074
citations, 2023–2026
92.3%
Serious/Willful/Repeat
$4,691
average initial penalty
98.9%
at establishments under 100 employees
1,074 citations is enough real volume to say this standard gets enforced often, not just written. 92.3% of those citations were classified Serious, Willful, or Repeat by OSHA itself — the categories that carry the heaviest real penalties and the ones a Serious classification is meant to flag as an immediate hazard, not a paperwork gap. The average initial penalty on a cited case was $4,691, and 98.9% of citations landed on establishments the matching inspection recorded at under 100 employees — real exposure for smaller employers under this specific standard, not a general industry-wide claim.
Study Scaffold Competent Person →Real practice questions on 29 CFR 1926.452
A pole scaffold is planned at a height of 72 feet. What does Subpart L require before it can be built?
1926.452(a)(10): Pole scaffold height limit
Which scaffold type must always be designed by a registered professional engineer, with no height threshold that triggers the requirement?
1926.452(i)(8): Outrigger scaffolds, engineer design
A fabricated frame scaffold is erected on a site where high wind can create uplift capable of displacing the end frames. What must be done to the frames or panels?
1926.452(c)(4): Fabricated frame scaffolds, uplift
Other standards on Scaffold Competent Person
Source: US DOL Open Data Portal, OSHA Violation + Inspection extracts (data.dol.gov), 2023-01-01 through 2026-07-30. Federal 29 CFR citations only — state-plan programs (California, Washington, Oregon, and others) use their own citation codes and aren't included here. Full methodology and every other standard: the Compliance Risk Index.
Frequently asked questions
How many OSHA citations exist under 29 CFR 1926.452?
1,074 real citations from 2023-01-01 through 2026-07-30, sourced from the US DOL Open Data Portal.
What share of 29 CFR 1926.452 citations are classified Serious, Willful, or Repeat?
92.3% of citations under this standard carry OSHA's Serious, Willful, or Repeat classification -- the categories reserved for the heaviest real penalties.
Does this data cover state-plan OSHA programs like Cal/OSHA?
No. This covers federal 29 CFR citations only -- California, Washington, Oregon, and other state-plan programs use their own citation codes and are not included here.