The OSHA 4-Foot Rule
priority_high Why it matters
In general industry the fall-protection trigger is just 4 feet — not the 6 feet most people assume from construction. OSHA §1910.28 requires protection for any worker on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge 4 feet or more above a lower level. Mezzanines, loading docks, roof access, pits and elevated walkways all qualify.
event_repeat How often it's checked
The duty is continuous — there is no inspection interval; protection simply has to be in place whenever the exposure exists. It's a core target of OSHA's fall-protection emphasis program, so an inspector can cite an unprotected 4-foot edge the moment they see it.
construction How La Gala fixes it
We assess every surface against the 4-foot rule and install the right protection — compliant guardrail, hole covers, designated-area systems, or certified anchors and tie-offs — then document it for your compliance file.
Got this on a citation — or want to get ahead of it?
We certify it and we fix it, under one contract. Start with a free, no-obligation assessment, or build a custom compliance plan in two minutes.