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construction violations

Fall Protection Leads Washington Construction Safety Violations in 2026

L&I’s 2024 construction ranking placed three fall-protection provisions at the top. Its statewide 2026 release reports falls remained the most cited serious workplace safety violation for the 20th year.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 4 min read
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Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) says falls from heights were the state’s most cited serious workplace safety violation for the 20th consecutive year, according to its January 15, 2026 release. In construction-specific data, fall protection provisions also occupied the top three places in L&I’s 2024 serious-and-higher ranking. The latest construction ranking shown in that table is only year-to-date data for 2025—not a full-year 2026 ranking.

What the Washington data says

The statewide statement and the construction ranking describe different scopes. L&I’s 2026 release reports the long-running statewide pattern; its construction table counts citations for specific construction provisions. Keeping those categories separate makes the figures useful without implying that the statewide claim is itself a construction-only ranking.

Measure Period and scope Finding
Most cited serious workplace safety violation Washington statewide; L&I release dated January 15, 2026 Falls from heights, for the 20th consecutive year. L&I release
Top construction serious-and-higher provision Calendar year 2024 WAC 296-880-100, fall protection application: 520 citations. L&I construction ranking table
Second construction provision Calendar year 2024 WAC 296-880-200, fall protection required at four feet or more: 510 citations. L&I construction ranking table
Third construction provision Calendar year 2024 WAC 296-880-300, specific fall protection requirements: 340 citations. L&I construction ranking table

The same table’s CY 2025-to-date column ranks WAC 296-880-200 first, with 89 citations, and WAC 296-880-100 second, with 85. Those are partial-year figures, not final annual counts and not 2026 construction totals. The table compares serious-and-higher citations; it should not be treated as a count of every inspection, every construction violation, or every penalty.

Why fall protection remains a frequent problem

Fall protection depends on a complete, correctly used system—not simply on having a harness at the site. L&I’s January 2026 examples include improperly installed anchors, excessive rope slack, and an anchor point positioned below rather than above a worker. Any of those conditions can undermine the protection workers expect from fall-arrest equipment.

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The agency’s release also describes cases involving workers without fall protection, ladder use, and lack of training. Together, the examples point to recurring areas employers need to manage: selecting and installing appropriate equipment, checking the setup and connection before work, and ensuring workers understand how to use it.

What protection Washington employers must provide

L&I’s January 2026 release summarizes the employer’s responsibility this way: “Employers bear the ultimate responsibility to make sure their workers use fall protection or guardrail systems while working above four feet in height.” The statement is a news-release summary, not a substitute for the applicable rule text or a site-specific assessment.

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The release identifies harnesses, fall-arrest systems, properly installed anchors, and guardrail systems as relevant fall-protection equipment. Which solution is appropriate depends on the work and conditions. A harness by itself does not establish that a system is suitable or correctly configured; anchor installation and location, connections, and rope slack matter. Employers should consult the applicable Washington requirements and ensure workers receive the information and training needed for the system they use.

Enforcement and the wider construction figures

L&I reported issuing $1.4 million in fines to five construction companies over the four months preceding its January 15, 2026 release for fall-protection rule violations. The agency described cases involving fall-protection failures and training issues; some employers cited in those cases were appealing, so the allegations and their procedural status should not be conflated with a final resolution.

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The release says employers in the Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) face increased compliance scrutiny. L&I assistant director Craig Blackwood said: “The companies on the SVEP list have demonstrated plain indifference to safety rules by knowingly and repeatedly ignoring them.” The quotation refers to companies on that program’s list, not to every employer cited for a fall-protection violation.

For context, L&I’s construction intervention table recorded 5,914 total construction violations and $11,456,691 in assessed penalties for calendar year 2024. Its 2025 year-to-date figures—1,072 violations and $2,191,118 in assessed penalties—cover only the period through February 28, 2025. These are broad construction totals, not fall-protection-specific counts. The table says its data was current as of its March 11, 2025 query. L&I construction intervention table

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  • Back, shoulder and waist pads are of moisture wicking material for better breathability and a more comfortable fit to help reduce user fatigue and heat exhaustion
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  • The harness is the lightest in its kind, as it made up completely of aluminum hardware
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How to use the figures responsibly

  • Use the 20-year statement for the statewide serious workplace safety trend; use the construction table for construction provision rankings.
  • Label the 520, 510, and 340 figures as calendar-year 2024 construction serious-and-higher citations.
  • Label 89 and 85 as the table’s partial-year 2025-to-date figures, not complete-year results.
  • Do not interpret overall construction violation or penalty totals as fall-protection counts.

L&I says information and training are key to preventing falls and links employers and workers to a digital fall-protection tool. The agency also advises homeowners researching a contractor to check the business’s safety record. For institutional background, L&I’s Construction Advisory Committee page describes the committee as a forum for the agency, labor, and business to discuss construction safety after a notable increase in fall fatalities. L&I Construction Advisory Committee

Quick Recap

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3M Protecta Comfort Construction Style Full Body Positioning Harness, M/L
3M Protecta Comfort Construction Style Full Body Positioning Harness, M/L
Fall Protection; Manufacturer: 3M; Made in: United States; For industrial/occupational use only. Not for consumer sale or use
$136.14
Bestseller No. 4
Frontline 110CTB Combat™ Lite Full Body Harness all Aluminum | Hardware Trauma Straps | OSHA and ANSI Compliant (Size: M-L)
Frontline 110CTB Combat™ Lite Full Body Harness all Aluminum | Hardware Trauma Straps | OSHA and ANSI Compliant (Size: M-L)
The harness is the lightest in its kind, as it made up completely of aluminum hardware; Breaking Strength: 5,000 lbs User Max Weight Capacity: 310 lbs
$149.99
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
FRONTLINE FALL PROTECTION Combat™ Full Body Harness | New styles | OSHA and ANSI compliant (ML, Full Body Harness)…
  • Back, shoulder and waist pads are of moisture wicking material for better breathability and a more comfortable fit to help reduce user fatigue and heat exhaustion
  • Made up of high tenacity black polyester webbing and safety orange stitching, makes it easier to do stitching safety inspection because of the color contrasting
  • Features 5-points of adjustability, making the harness fits snug and more comfortable on users
  • Convenient reinforced belt and rigid pad supports tool belts without harness falling or sagging
  • Harness features integrated suspension trauma straps to avoid suspension trauma if subject to a fall

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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