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Bent rebar and impalement protection

Summary A contractor asked whether rebar bent horizontally as shown in submitted drawings still posed an impalement hazard. OSHA said the described drawings showed a configuration that would satisfy its cited rule. OSHA marks the published response corrected in 2005.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1995-03-24
Date issued
March 24, 1995
Status
Active
OSHA marks the published letter corrected on April 26, 2005.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Impalement Rebar
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

March 24, 1995
Mark Totten
Flintco, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Totten:
This is in response to your December 19, 1994, letter requesting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to comment on whether or not reinforcing steel bent to a horizontal position constitutes an impalement hazard. We have reviewed the six drawings you included in your letter and agree that reinforcing steel bent and configured as per your drawings would not constitute an impalement hazard and would meet the requirement of 29 CFR 1926.701(b).
If you require further assistance, please contact [the Directorate of Construction at 202 693-2020].
Sincerely,
Roy F. Gurnham, P.E., J.D., Director
[Directorate of Construction]
[Corrected 4/26/2005]

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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