The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced its preliminary list* of the top 10 most frequently cited workplace standards for fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024). The finalized list will be published in the spring of 2025.
This year’s citations are the same as they have been for the last few years, and the two Fall Protection Standards (General and Training requirements) make up more than 30% of the total violations in the top 10. The top three and bottom two violations hold their positions from 2023, however, the remaining entries on the list have shifted. The Respiratory Protection Standard jumped from seventh up to fourth, and The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) crept up one spot to number five.
Violating OSHA regulations in 2024 can result in penalties of up to $161,323 for willful and repeated violations, and up to $16,131 for others, and these values are increased for inflation each year. OSHA may also place employers that demonstrate indifference to their obligation to employee safety and health by committing willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate violations into their Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP).
We’ve listed the top 10 most frequently cited standards for the fiscal year 2024 and included links to safety related resources below.
- Fall Protection – General Requirements [29 CFR 1926.501] ─ There were 6,307 violations regarding fall protection in the construction industry. Fall Prevention
- Hazard Communication [29 CFR 1910.1200] ─ There were 2,888 violations for insufficient communication of workplace hazards. HazCom Safety Resources
- Ladders [29 CFR 1926.1053] ─ There were 2,573 violations involving ladder use and safety in the construction industry. Ladder Safety Fact Sheets
- Respiratory Protection [29 CFR 1910.134] ─ There were 2,470 violations for failures to protect workers against respiratory hazards such as oxygen deficiency, particulates, smoke, gases, and vapors. Respiratory Protection
- The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) [29 CFR 1910.147] ─ There were 2,443 violations for failing to ensure workers were protected from hazardous electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy sources. Lockout/Tagout Safety Resources
- Powered Industrial Trucks [29 CFR 1910.178] ─ There were 2,248 violations involving powered industrial trucks and their corresponding workplace safety programs. Powered Industrial Truck – Forklift Safety Resources
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements [29 CFR 1926.503] ─ There were 2,050 violations surrounding inadequate training programs and recordkeeping for employees exposed to fall hazards. Fall Prevention Training Guide
- Scaffolding [29 CFR 1926.451] ─ There were 1,873 violations in the construction industry that related to scaffolding, including scissor lifts and aerial lifts. Scaffolding Safety Resources
- Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection [29 CFR 1926.102] ─ There were 1,814 violations with regard to inadequate eye and face protection for chemical, environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants and hazards in the construction industry. Eye and Face Protection
- Machine Guarding [29 CFR 1910.212] ─ There were 1,541 violations involving moving machine parts and protecting personnel from the severe injuries they could cause. Machine Guarding
The top 10 list of violations is a reminder to promote safety, review your programs, and identify applicable hazards at your workplace. Safety Partners can help. Contact us for additional information about this list, for assistance with preventing these types of violations in your workplace, and/or for support when preparing for an OSHA inspection. We can also oversee workplace safety inspections, perform Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), coordinate employee safety and health training, and conduct industrial hygiene monitoring.
This blog was written by Kim E. Folger, Safety Partners’ Training and Development Manager.
* Scott Ketcham, Director of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs for OSHA, presented the preliminary data for OSHA’s Top 10 during the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, September 2024.
