Employers must provide fall protection to construction workers working on scaffolds that are more than 10 feet (3.1 meters) above a lower level. According to OSHA standard 1926.451, each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling to that lower level by guardrails or a personal fall arrest system

. This 10-foot requirement for scaffolds differs from the general construction industry rule, which requires fall protection at heights of 6 feet or more, because scaffolds have specific considerations and exceptions

. In summary, for scaffolds specifically, fall protection is mandatory starting at heights greater than 10 feet above a lower level.