1910.135 Head Protection: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Employees working where they could be injured by falling objects must wear protective helmets, commonly hard hats. Where workers are near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head, helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazards are required. Head protection must meet recognized ANSI design criteria or provide equivalent protection, and the selection depends on the type of impact and electrical exposure identified in the employer's hazard assessment.
What the standard requires
- Provide protective helmets where falling objects could strike the head
- Use electrically rated helmets near exposed electrical conductors
- Ensure helmets meet recognized ANSI design criteria or equivalent
Hazards it addresses
- Skull fractures and head trauma from falling objects
- Electrical shock through the head
Typically cited in manufacturing, warehousing with overhead storage, and utility work.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.135(a)(1) | Protective helmets where there is potential for injury from falling objects | 47 | 47 | $3,500 |
| 1910.135(a)(2) | Helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazard near exposed conductors | 2 | 2 | $1,774 |
| 1910.135(b)(1) | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 50 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $221,846 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $165,635, 25% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 90%; Other-than-serious 10%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6 | 6 | $26,672 | $10,414 |
| New York | 6 | 6 | $13,477 | $8,965 |
| Texas | 6 | 6 | $36,270 | $23,682 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 4 | $19,600 | $14,280 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 3 | $11,883 | $4,522 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 3 | $19,072 | $18,300 |
| Virginia | 3 | 3 | $7,470 | $7,470 |
| Arizona | 2 | 2 | $13,241 | $13,241 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 2 | $10,450 | $8,200 |
| Delaware | 2 | 2 | $23,267 | $19,862 |
| Idaho | 2 | 2 | $6,431 | $4,502 |
| Illinois | 2 | 2 | $1,702 | $1,191 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 2 | $7,700 | $7,700 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 2 | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| Maryland | 1 | 1 | $525 | $365 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | $10,641 | $10,641 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1 | $9,795 | $8,649 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 15 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 11 inspections
- Construction: 6 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 4 inspections
- Real estate & rental: 2 inspections
- Arts, entertainment & recreation: 2 inspections
- Agriculture, forestry & fishing: 2 inspections
- Information: 1 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Housing Authority | Lawrence, MA | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Marmon Retail Solutions | Wagoner, OK | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $10,050 | $10,050 | OpenAbatement due Sep 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Jefferson City - Public Works | Jefferson City, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cards Neo, LLC | Afton, OK | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $7,093 | $7,093 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| D.J.F. Services Inc. | Macomb, OK | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $1,929 | $1,157 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Alliance Irrigation, LLC | Hartley, TX | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Waynesboro, PA | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $10,641 | $10,641 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cohoes City DPW | Cohoes, NY | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| United Materials, Inc. | Midlothian, VA | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Motor Controls Inc. | Dallas, TX | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $9,458 | $5,675 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M.A. Jimenez Roofing LLC | Hialeah, FL | Jul 10, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,362 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| City of Shelton | Shelton, CT | Jul 10, 2026 | 1 | $400 | $160 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| BFS Operations LLC | Queensbury, NY | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Jul 9, 2026Contested Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cortez Tree Service | Asheville, NC | Jun 30, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Team Hospitality Group LLC | Benton, KY | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $2,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Integrated Distribution Systems Inc. | Louisville, KY | Jun 16, 2026 | 1 | $6,300 | $6,300 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Southern Forest Products, LLC | Appalachia, VA | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $7,470 | $7,470 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Faris Properties, LLC | Kingsport, TN | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,400 | $2,400 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 29, 2026Contested Jun 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Royal Palm Tree Services SRQ | Longboat Key, FL | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Status not determinableAbatement due Jun 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Alba's Construction, LLC | Randallstown, MD | May 20, 2026 | 1 | $525 | $365 | Formal settlementAbatement due May 29, 2026Contested Jun 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Total Home Lawn Care Maintenance and Power Washing, Inc. | Fort Lauderdale, FL | May 7, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $2,043 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| WWG Construction Inc. | Brentwood, NY | May 7, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 19, 2026Contested May 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Frito Lay, Inc. | Dayville, CT | May 1, 2026 | 1 | $10,050 | $8,040 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| United Metal Products, Inc. | Tempe, AZ | Apr 30, 2026 | 1 | $6,621 | $6,621 | OpenAbatement due Apr 30, 2026Contest deadline ~May 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| United Metal Products, Inc. | Tempe, AZ | Apr 30, 2026 | 1 | $6,621 | $6,621 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dae-IL USA Inc. | Murray, KY | Apr 10, 2026 | 1 | $6,300 | $3,780 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D & D Power | San Antonio, TX | Apr 9, 2026 | 1 | $5,296 | $3,178 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Gaston Tree Debris Recycling, LLC | Orlando, FL | Apr 1, 2026 | 1 | $15,322 | $3,830 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Midlothian, VA | Mar 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| I-94 Speedway Inc. | Fergus Falls, MN | Mar 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,200 | $4,200 | ContestedAbatement due Apr 2, 2026Contested Apr 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Hanover, MA | Mar 20, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Ilion Village Electric Department | Ilion, NY | Feb 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Mar 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Richardson, TX | Feb 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $2,298 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cimco Resources, Inc. | Rock Falls, IL | Feb 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Wissota Promoters Association Inc. | Fergus Falls, MN | Feb 20, 2026 | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | ContestedAbatement due Mar 2, 2026Contested Mar 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J & J Tree Experts, Inc. | Jacksonville, FL | Feb 17, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $2,043 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Big Brothers Tree Services | East Hampton, NY | Feb 11, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final order | osha.gov |
| New England Appliance & Electronics Group, Inc. | Franklin, MA | Feb 10, 2026 | 1 | $9,045 | $4,522 | Informal settlementAbatement due Feb 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Subcom Cable Systems, LLC | Newington, NH | Jan 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jan 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| B & B Holiday Decorating, LLC | Winnetka, IL | Jan 20, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,191 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (18 shared inspections)
- 1910.133 Eye & Face Protection (14 shared inspections)
- 1910.28 Fall Protection Duty (8 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (7 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (7 shared inspections)
- 1910.67 Aerial Lifts (7 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (6 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (6 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.135 require?
Employees working where they could be injured by falling objects must wear protective helmets, commonly hard hats. Where workers are near exposed electrical conductors that could contact the head, helmets designed to reduce electrical shock hazards are required. Head protection must meet recognized ANSI design criteria or provide equivalent protection, and the selection depends on the type of impact and electrical exposure identified in the employer's hazard assessment.
How often was 1910.135 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.135 (Head Protection) appeared in 50 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 50 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.135 is cited most?
1910.135(a)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 47 items: Protective helmets where there is potential for injury from falling objects
Which states cite 1910.135 most often?
The most citations under 1910.135 in this period were issued in Florida, New York, Texas.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.135 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $3,500; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $2,349. Totals: $221,846 proposed, $165,635 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.135 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 20% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.