Reinforcing steel of any diameter and any length must be guarded.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 23, 1994

Mr. Rich Krohn
Corporate Safety Director
Mortenson
P.O. Box 710
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-0710

Dear Mr. Krohn:

Your June 4 letter to Mr. Gerald Cunningham, Area Director, Milwaukee Area Office, requesting an interpretation of 29 CFR 1926.701(b) has been forwarded to the Office of Construction and Maritime Compliance Assistance for a response. We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

Acceptable use of reinforcing steel bent to a horizontal position to eliminate impalement hazards.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 24, 1995

Mark Totten
Flintco, Inc.
P.O. Box 490
1624 West 21st Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101-0490

Dear Mr. Totten:

Reinforcing steel (rebar) assemblies: questions regarding fall protection and training.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 9, 1999

Mr. J. Robert Harrell
President
Safety Management Services
4012 Santa Nella Place
San Diego, CA 92130-2291

Protection of impalement hazards: rebar and other hazards.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

August 3, 1999

Paul Resler
National Sales Manager
National Lightning Protection Corporation
4120 Brighton Blvd, Unit A-37
Denver, Colorado 80216

Re: Impalement hazards from rebar: §1926.701(b), rebar caps, lightning rods, and NLP "Flathead"

Dear Mr. Resler:

Impalement protection from protruding reinforcing steel and 250-pound drop test.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

Aug 26, 2014

Mr. Lewis Candler
1820 Waiola St. Apt. PH707
Honolulu, HI 96826

Dear Mr. Candler:

Thank you for your May 16, 2014, letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. You ask about the concrete and masonry construction standards, 29 CFR § 1926, Subpart Q, and the strength requirements for devices used to guard reinforcing steel.

Fall protection requirements for employees working from a "work bridge" in concrete construction work

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

December 9, 2002

ATI–Advance Technology, Inc.
Attn: Mr. Thomas A. Berry
1762 North St. Francis
Wichita, Kansas 67208

Re: Whether fall protection is required for workers on work bridges; whether workers on work bridges must be protected against impalement on vertical rebar; §§1926.450(b) and 1926.701(b); work bridges; scaffolds; concrete; rebar

Dear Mr. Berry:

Requirements for leaving construction equipment and powder-actuated tools unattended on a construction building site; impalement protection from reinforcing steel for masonry workers on a scaffold.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

May 11, 2005

Mr. Peter Kuchinsky, II
Safety Trainer/Consultant
Construction Building Analysts
1770 Wolverine Way
Vista, CA 92084

Re: Requirements for leaving construction equipment and powder-actuated tools unattended on a construction building site; impalement protection from reinforcing steel for masonry workers on a scaffold; §1926.701(b). §§1926.302(e)(6), 1926.600(a)(3)

Dear Mr. Kuchinsky:

Impalement from reinforcing steel protruding horizontally; §1926.701(b)

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 10, 2006

Mr. Jack Calhoun
[By e-mail]

Dear Mr. Calhoun:

Re: Impalement from reinforcing steel protruding horizontally; §1926.701(b).

This is in response to your e-mail dated April 18, 2005 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You asked about the requirements for protecting employees from impalement hazards from reinforcing steel that protrudes horizontally. We sent you some information in response on April 25, 2005; this letter supplements that response.

Whether non-rebar projections on a construction site must be guarded; whether rebar caps/covers are subject to a minimum size requirement; whether vertical rebar in beam stirrups are subject to §1926.701(b)

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

April 24, 2006

Martin E. Cawley
Gateway Construction Company
3150 West Hirsch Street
Melrose Park, Illinois 60160-1749

Re: Whether non-rebar projections on a construction site must be guarded; whether rebar caps/covers are subject to a minimum size requirement; whether vertical rebar in beam stirrups are subject to §1926.701(b)?

Dear Mr. Cawley:

Clarification regarding impalement hazards on construction worksites

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 18, 2014

Eric M. Dean
General Secretary
International Association of
Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Suite 400
1750 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20006

Dear Mr. Dean: