Data last updated: August 24, 2026
Massachusetts contractors racked up 13 ladder violations under OSHA standard 1926.1053 over the past 12 months. The average penalty landed at $1,173, though the median was just $600 — a gap that tells you a handful of larger fines are pulling the average up while most cases settle lower. Hanson saw more of these citations than any other city in the state. Twelve of the 13 citations were classified as Serious, meaning OSHA determined there was a real chance of death or serious injury tied to the violation.
If you or your company just received a citation like this, waiting to see what happens is the worst option. Talk to a Massachusetts OSHA defense attorney before your response window starts closing.
What OSHA Actually Requires Under the Ladder Standard
The rule behind every one of these Massachusetts citations, 1926.1053, is the baseline federal standard for ladder safety on construction sites. It’s not complicated in concept, but it’s easy to violate in the field. The standard covers how a ladder has to be set up and secured, how far it needs to extend above a landing surface when workers are climbing on and off a roof or platform, how much weight it’s rated to hold, what counts as damaged or unsafe equipment that has to be pulled from service, and how workers are supposed to use ladders once they’re in place — facing the ladder, maintaining points of contact, not overreaching. You can read the full breakdown of how this standard is enforced at the 1926.1053 standard hub. Most citations trace back to one of a few recurring problems: a ladder that doesn’t extend far enough past the roofline, a ladder set up on unstable or uneven ground, or a damaged ladder still being used on the job.
Roofers Are Carrying the Bulk of This Enforcement
Of the 13 citations issued statewide, six went to roofing contractors — nearly half the total. Siding contractors and residential remodelers each picked up two more. That pattern isn’t a coincidence. Roofing work puts ladders in constant use for access to steep, elevated surfaces, often on residential jobs where crews move fast and inspectors have an easy sightline from the street. If you run a roofing operation in Massachusetts, you’re working in the industry OSHA is watching most closely for exactly this kind of violation. It’s worth reviewing how enforcement plays out specifically for roofing contractors before your next inspection, not after.
What These Citations Actually Cost — And What Names Are on Them
The dollar figures in Massachusetts range widely. J N Picariello Co., LLC in Hamilton was cited $3,972 for a Serious violation under 1926.1053(b)(1), issued May 19, 2026. Marquez Carpentry Inc in Plymouth received a $2,838 Serious citation under the same subsection, dated September 25, 2025. Cristian Builder Pro LLC in Bedford was fined $2,838 under 1926.1053(b)(5)(i), issued June 16, 2026. Lifetime Contractors, Inc. in Weston picked up a $2,500 Serious citation under 1926.1053(b)(7), dated February 17, 2026. And Rdc Services Inc in South Yarmouth was cited $1,500 under 1926.1053(b)(1), issued May 11, 2026.
Notice that all five of these are Serious citations, not Other-than-Serious — that classification matters because it’s what drives the penalty amount up and what shows up on your OSHA record going forward. One data point that should change how you think about these numbers: the average penalty reduction between the initial citation and the final settled amount in Massachusetts is 60%. That’s a substantial gap, and it doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because employers push back, negotiate, or contest, rather than simply paying what’s on the initial notice. For a full breakdown of how these figures are calculated and why they vary so much, see this guide to OSHA ladder violation penalty amounts.
A 60% average reduction is not something you get by ignoring the paperwork. Before you decide to just pay a citation and move on, it’s worth a conversation with a Massachusetts OSHA defense attorney to see whether your case has room to negotiate down.
The Clock Starts the Day You Open the Envelope
If you’ve been cited, you have exactly 15 working days from the date you receive the citation to file a Notice of Contest. Miss that window and the citation becomes a final order — no appeal, no negotiation, no reduction, regardless of whether the fine was fair or the facts were accurate. This is not a soft deadline, and OSHA does not grant extensions because you were busy or didn’t understand the process.
Given that 60% average reduction figure, and given that 12 of the 13 Massachusetts ladder citations this year were Serious rather than minor paperwork issues, the stakes of missing that window are real money, not a technicality. Before you sign anything or send a check, read through how to contest an OSHA citation so you understand what your options actually are and how the timeline works.
Fifteen working days moves fast once you factor in mail delays, staffing, and figuring out what your defense even looks like. If you’ve been cited or expect to be, get a Massachusetts OSHA defense attorney reviewing your case now, while you still have time to act on it.