Compliance Risk Index / OSHA
Fall Protection: Training Requirements
29 CFR 1926.503
Data coverage: 2023-01-01 through 2026-07-30 · Source: US DOL Open Data Portal
12,075
citations, 2023–2026
69.2%
Serious/Willful/Repeat
$4,547
average initial penalty
99.5%
at establishments under 100 employees
12,075 citations is enough real volume to say this standard gets enforced often, not just written. 69.2% 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 $4,547, and 99.5% 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 Fall Protection Competent Person →Real practice questions on 29 CFR 1926.503
What must an employer provide for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards?
1926.503(a)(1)
Who must the fall protection training program be overseen by, per the standard?
1926.503(a)(2): introductory clause
What is the first training topic the competent person must cover under 1926.503(a)(2)?
1926.503(a)(2)(i)
Other standards on Fall Protection 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 1926.503?
12,075 real citations from 2023-01-01 through 2026-07-30, sourced from the US DOL Open Data Portal.
What share of 29 CFR 1926.503 citations are classified Serious, Willful, or Repeat?
69.2% 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.