Just One Step: The Most Common Fall Hazard
Most serious falls do not happen during high risk, complex work. They happen during moments that feel routine, taking just one step onto a roof edge, climbing down a ladder, or crossing an unprotected opening for only a second.
That mindset, that just one step is harmless, is exactly why fall protection remains OSHA’s most frequently cited construction violation year after year.
The Risk Is Not the Height, It Is Just One Step
OSHA’s Fall Protection Standard (29 CFR 1926.501) requires protection when workers are exposed to falls of 6 feet or more in construction. Yet violations continue because the hazard often is not obvious. When tasks feel familiar, just one step without protection can seem reasonable, until it is not.
Falls commonly occur during:
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Short duration tasks where just one step feels unnecessary to tie off
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Transitions between surfaces or elevations
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Work near edges assumed to be “safe enough”
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Improper ladder use or repositioning
These are not high drama situations. They are moments where just one step changes the outcome.
What OSHA Finds When Just One Step Goes Unprotected
During inspections and incident investigations, OSHA frequently finds that fall protection was available but not used correctly or consistently. In many cases, just one step was taken without proper safeguards in place.
Common fall protection gaps include:
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Missing or incomplete guardrail systems
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Improper anchor points or tie off methods
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Worn or poorly fitted harnesses
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Lack of task specific fall protection training
The violation is rarely about missing equipment. It is about allowing just one step to go unplanned.
Fall Protection Must Account for Just One Step
Fall protection is not a single piece of equipment. It is a system designed to protect workers every time elevation is involved, including situations that feel minor. Effective programs account for just one step by ensuring:
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Fall hazards are identified before work begins
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Protection methods match the task, not convenience
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Equipment is inspected and maintained
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Workers understand when and why protection is required
Rescue planning is equally critical. A fall arrest system stops the fall, but without a rescue plan, just one step can still lead to serious consequences.
The Takeaway
Falls are predictable, preventable, and costly. The most dangerous moment on a jobsite is often when work feels routine and just one step is taken without protection.
Organizations that treat fall protection as part of everyday planning reduce injuries, avoid citations, and protect their workforce where it matters most.
If a task involves elevation, just one step should always trigger fall protection.
