During the September 2025 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced their fiscal year 2025 preliminary list of the most frequently cited workplace standards. The finalized list will be published in the spring of 2026.
Number one, for the 15th year in a row, is one of the Safety and Health Regulations for Construction on general requirements for Fall Protection. Of the General Industry Standards, the most frequently cited is Hazard Communication, which remains at number two for the fourth consecutive year.
This year’s “Top 10” list includes the same frequently cited regulations as fiscal year (FY) 2024, and the rankings have only shifted slightly. For instance, the standard on Respiratory Protection moved down from fourth in 2024 to fifth in 2025, and the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) shifted up one spot this year to number four. Based on the preliminary data, the total number of top 10 OSHA citations in FY 2025 (23,537) was down by roughly 17 percent compared to FY 2024 (28,337).
A complete preliminary list of the top 10 most frequently cited regulations in FY 2025 is included below along with links to safety-related resources.
- Fall Protection – General Requirements [29 CFR 1926.501] ─ There were 5,914 violations regarding assessing fall hazards and providing fall protection in the construction industry. Fall Prevention
- Hazard Communication [29 CFR 1910.1200] ─ There were 2,546 violations for insufficient communication of workplace hazards. Hazard Communication
- Ladders [29 CFR 1926.1053] ─ There were 2,405 violations involving ladder use and safety in the construction industry. Ladders
- The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) [29 CFR 1910.147] ─ There were 2,177 violations for failing to ensure workers were protected from hazardous electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy sources. Lockout/Tagout
- Respiratory Protection [29 CFR 1910.134] ─ There were 1,953 violations for inadequately protecting workers against respiratory hazards such as oxygen deficiency, particulates, gases, and vapors. Respiratory Protection
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements [29 CFR 1926.503] ─ There were 1,907 violations for non-compliant training programs and recordkeeping for employees exposed to fall hazards in the construction industry. Fall Prevention Training
- Scaffolding [29 CFR 1926.451] ─ There were 1,905 violations in the construction industry that related to scaffolding, including scissor lifts and aerial lifts. Scaffolding
- Powered Industrial Trucks [29 CFR 1910.178] ─ There were 1,826 violations involving powered industrial trucks and their corresponding workplace safety programs. Powered Industrial Trucks – Forklifts
- Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection [29 CFR 1926.102] ─ There were 1,665 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 1,239 violations concerning moving machine parts and protecting personnel from the severe injuries they could cause, such as with appropriate guarding. Machine Guarding
Non-compliance with an OSHA regulation in 2025 can result in a penalty of up to $165,514, and the amounts 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).
OSHA encourages employers to use the top 10 list of violations as a guide for identifying the most significant hazards applicable to their organization and as a tool to increase workplace safety. Safety Partners can help with preventing these types of violations at your facility, and/or provide support when preparing for an OSHA inspection. We can also develop and help implement your safety programs, provide employee health and safety training, and oversee workplace safety assessments—contact us!
This blog was written by Beth Graham, Safety Partners’ Director of Quality, Research, and Training.
