1910.23 Ladders: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
This standard sets design, inspection, and use rules for portable ladders, fixed ladders, mobile ladder stands, and step stools used in general industry. Rungs and steps must be evenly spaced, slip-resistant, and capable of supporting the intended load. Ladders must be inspected before initial use in each work shift and defective ladders tagged and removed from service. It also addresses safe use, such as facing the ladder while climbing, using portable ladders only on stable surfaces, and extending side rails above landings.
What the standard requires
- Inspect ladders before initial use in each work shift
- Tag and remove ladders with structural defects from service until repaired
- Use portable ladders only for their designed purpose and on stable, level surfaces
- Maintain ladders free of oil, grease, and slipping hazards
Hazards it addresses
- Falls from ladders
- Ladder collapse or tip-over
- Slipping from rungs or steps
Often cited in warehousing, retail, building maintenance, and manufacturing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.23(b)(10) | Ladders with structural or other defects immediately tagged and removed from service | 73 | 73 | $0 |
| 1910.23(c)(11) | 56 | 56 | $2,624 | |
| 1910.23(b)(8) | 50 | 50 | $2,556 | |
| 1910.23(c)(3) | 43 | 43 | $0 | |
| 1910.23(b)(9) | Ladders inspected before initial use in each work shift for visible defects | 42 | 42 | $1,090 |
| 1910.23(c)(8) | 19 | 19 | $2,837 | |
| 1910.23(d)(7) | 12 | 12 | $525 | |
| 1910.23(c)(9) | 11 | 11 | $4,256 | |
| 1910.23(d)(4) | 10 | 10 | $1,100 | |
| 1910.23(c)(4) | 8 | 8 | $4,468 | |
| 1910.23(c)(7)(i) | 7 | 7 | $0 | |
| 1910.23(d)(2) | 7 | 7 | $700 | |
| 1910.23(b)(1) | 5 | 5 | $7,000 | |
| 1910.23(b)(13) | 5 | 5 | $4,823 | |
| 1910.23(b)(11) | 4 | 4 | $3,842 |
Penalties
Across 385 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $1,291,107 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $922,002, 29% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 80%; Other-than-serious 20%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 45 | 48 | $4,450 | $4,450 |
| Oregon | 24 | 26 | $67,252 | $58,920 |
| New York | 22 | 31 | $24,654 | $13,339 |
| Michigan | 18 | 23 | $26,700 | $22,550 |
| Texas | 15 | 20 | $143,315 | $122,538 |
| Massachusetts | 14 | 21 | $16,739 | $15,888 |
| Hawaii | 12 | 12 | $29,167 | $27,261 |
| Connecticut | 10 | 12 | $32,388 | $12,361 |
| New Jersey | 10 | 11 | $67,370 | $53,521 |
| Florida | 9 | 11 | $59,147 | $45,413 |
| Virginia | 9 | 11 | $37,225 | $37,018 |
| Illinois | 8 | 10 | $75,661 | $43,108 |
| Minnesota | 8 | 9 | $9,050 | $6,410 |
| Ohio | 8 | 12 | $62,002 | $35,532 |
| California | 6 | 6 | $2,935 | $2,054 |
| Maryland | 6 | 10 | $10,225 | $7,445 |
| Iowa | 5 | 10 | $22,464 | $17,794 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 9 | $14,475 | $26,025 |
| Nevada | 5 | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 7 | $36,714 | $31,645 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 70 inspections
- Construction: 47 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 33 inspections
- Retail trade: 29 inspections
- Public administration: 22 inspections
- Educational services: 19 inspections
- Other services: 16 inspections
- Arts, entertainment & recreation: 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name withheld (individual) | Wahiawa, HI | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $3,015 | $3,015 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Aeko Kula LLC | Honolulu, HI | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $14,187 | $14,187 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Bellmawr Liquors LLC | Bellmawr, NJ | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,470 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Pembroke Department of Public Works (DPW) | Pembroke, MA | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Speedie Auto Salvage, Ltd. | Dover, OH | Aug 26, 2026 | 2 | $2,837 | $2,837 | OpenAbatement due Sep 15, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| D & S Commercial Service, Inc. | Honolulu, HI | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $4,824 | $4,824 | OpenAbatement due Aug 31, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Trial Court Facilities Management and Capital Planning Department | Pittsfield, MA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aerospace Aluminum Processing, LLC | South Salt Lake, UT | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $1,838 | $1,838 | OpenAbatement due Sep 10, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Ascencione, LLC | Reed City, MI | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $1,500 | $750 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Centex Maintenance Services, LLC | Houston, TX | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $9,268 | $7,414 | OpenAbatement due Sep 16, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 11, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Sioux Falls Kenworth, Inc. | Sioux Falls, SD | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Kingston Springs - Public Works and Sewer Department | Kingston Springs, TN | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Puerto Rico Telephone Company Inc. | Penuelas, PR | Aug 14, 2026 | 2 | $141,865 | $14,471 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Deshler, NE | Aug 13, 2026 | 3 | $26,480 | $20,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Genesco, Inc. | Danville, VA | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Uniqlo Disney Springs | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Motivational Systems, Inc. | Las Vegas, NV | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Giles County-Highway Department | Pulaski, TN | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Skywest Airlines, Inc. | Colorado Springs, CO | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $7,566 | $7,566 | OpenAbatement due Sep 15, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 31, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Serve IT Up Inc. | Boise, ID | Aug 7, 2026 | 3 | $7,945 | $3,178 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jay-Tex Aviation LLC | Mount Pleasant, TX | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Berry Hill - Public Works Department | Nashville, TN | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mad River Glen Cooperative | Waitsfield, VT | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $8,511 | $3,405 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jackson Energy Authority - Purchasing and Stores | Jackson, TN | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cortland Produce Company, Inc. | Freeville, NY | Aug 3, 2026 | 2 | $5,627 | $2,251 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Atlas Mechanical Inc. | North Kansas City, MO | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 26, 2026Contested Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tindall Corporation | San Antonio, TX | Jul 31, 2026 | 2 | $28,374 | $28,374 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 20, 2026Contested Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| KM Rivera's Construction, LLC | Raleigh, NC | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Scenic Landscaping | Westfield, NJ | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $6,951 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Dot-Harbors, Facility Maintenance | Honolulu, HI | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cypress Truck Lines, Inc. | Gibsonton, FL | Jul 29, 2026 | 2 | $6,753 | $4,052 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Dekra North America | Albuquerque, NM | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $17,001 | $17,001 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J&J Maintenance Incorporated | Fort Irwin, CA | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $903 | $632 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Interlude Furniture LLC | Christiansburg, VA | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 21, 2026Contested Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lakeland - Parks Department | Lakeland, TN | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Windfall Services LLC | Eugene, OR | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $1,214 | $1,214 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Kaminski Construction LLC | Eugene, OR | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $7,288 | $7,288 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Marick Mechanical | Des Moines, IA | Jul 24, 2026 | 2 | $7,685 | $5,380 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Athens Foods, Inc. | Brook Park, OH | Jul 23, 2026 | 2 | $6,809 | $6,809 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 18, 2026Contested Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Moore County Schools - Bus Garage | Lynchburg, TN | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.28 Fall Protection Duty (102 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (70 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (59 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (56 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (48 shared inspections)
- 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces (45 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (43 shared inspections)
- 1910.30 Fall Hazard Training (39 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.23 require?
This standard sets design, inspection, and use rules for portable ladders, fixed ladders, mobile ladder stands, and step stools used in general industry. Rungs and steps must be evenly spaced, slip-resistant, and capable of supporting the intended load. Ladders must be inspected before initial use in each work shift and defective ladders tagged and removed from service. It also addresses safe use, such as facing the ladder while climbing, using portable ladders only on stable surfaces, and extending side rails above landings.
How often was 1910.23 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.23 (Ladders) appeared in 305 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 385 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.23 is cited most?
1910.23(b)(10) was the most-cited paragraph, with 73 items: Ladders with structural or other defects immediately tagged and removed from service
Which states cite 1910.23 most often?
The most citations under 1910.23 in this period were issued in Tennessee, Oregon, New York.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.23 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $900; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $350. Totals: $1,291,107 proposed, $922,002 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.23 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 12% 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.