OSHA's Top 10 Most Cited Standards & How They Might Be Addressed

OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Standards (and How They Might Be Addressed)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released their most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2025.

The top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards of FY 2025 were:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,914 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,546
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,405
4. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,177
5. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 1,953
6. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,907
7. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,905
8. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,826
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,665
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,239

Lack of fall protection remains pervasive, having topped the list for 15 years now.

Other notable changes are violations related to powered industrial trucks falling from the sixth to eighth spot, with 422 fewer violations for the year compared to FY 2024, while scaffolding violations increased moderately, moving from the eighth to seventh spot.

How these issues are resolved depends on the specifics of each instance that led to a citation, but there are commonly applicable mitigation measures that can address them.

Fall Protection

Regarding fall protection, the most cited standard violation, OSHA offers resources on its fall protection webpage. The agency’s Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction provides a conceptual outline useful for implementing fall prevention measures in general:

• Plan ahead to do the job safely before starting each and every job.
• Provide the right equipment for working at heights.
• Train workers to use equipment properly and how to work safely on ladders and scaffolds.

Planning should be conducted with consideration of the Hierarchy of Controls. During planning, look for ways to spend less time working at heights or to move tasks to the ground whenever possible. This is also the time to make sure you have the right equipment.

Be sure to then provide that equipment to those who need it. This includes personal protective equipment (PPE), like harnesses and lifelines, and that safe tools and systems are in place, such as ladders (or lifts), guardrails, warning lines, and safety signage.

Regarding training requirements for fall prevention, the Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction recommends training on ladder safety, scaffold safety, and roof safety, as well as how to properly use the PPE provided.

“Fall Protection – General Requirements” and “Fall Protection – Training Requirements” were two of four fall-related safety standards in OSHA’s top 10.

Ladders

Ladders and improper ladder use also contribute to falls and together were the third most cited OSHA standard in FY 2025.

In general, there are a greater number of factors that contribute to improper use of ladders than lifts, so using lifts instead of ladders can reduce risk.

Note that, where ladders are used, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides a Ladder Safety App to support proper use.

Finally, employees should be trained to use ladders properly, including taking safety measures like:

• Maintaining three points of contact.
• Placing the ladder on level footing.
• Always facing the ladder.
• Securing the ladder by locking the metal braces at the center of the ladder.
• Not overreaching.
• Not walking the ladder.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding and its improper use also contribute to falls. Supervisors can play an important role in protecting workers from scaffold hazards.

According to OSHA, safety supervisors must:

• Check scaffolding tags for expiration or non-certification.
• Inspect pipes for corrosion and bending.
• Ensure gaps are covered and planks are secured.
• Ensure proper construction of the landing platform.
• Check installation of the midrail.
• Ensure the scaffolding has the proper toe board.
• Keep scaffolding a 10-foot distance from high-energy cables.
• Ensure a fall arrest system is used on scaffolding 10 feet or higher.

Those using scaffolding must not climb over cross braces, stand on guardrails, or use ladders on scaffolding. These and other precautions should be covered in training.

Hazard Communication

Other than the four fall prevention related standards in OSHA’s top 10, hazard communication is another practice that can often be improved upon, being the second most cited OSHA standard violation in FY 2025.

Safety professionals must stay current with regulations from agencies like OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) (if transporting hazardous materials) to ensure proper communication regarding toxic and hazardous substances.

All hazardous substances must be labeled under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) with clear information on hazard types, handling, and safety precautions. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) must be available and understood by employees, detailing each substance’s risks, safe use, emergency measures, and disposal guidelines. More information on SDSs can be found on OSHA’s Hazard Communication webpage.

A communication policy and related procedures should be established so that clear, relevant information about hazardous substances can be effectively shared between members of the work team and others. Employees who handle hazardous materials must receive regular training on labeling, safe handling, emergency response, and disposal.

Further Guidance

A variety of sources provide further material on these and other safety measures.

For example, The Hub provides toolbox talks regarding issues covered here, such as ladder safety and scaffold safety, as well as for the use of powered industrial trucks (PITs).

OSHA provides resources for Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) and Machine Guarding on related webpages, and NIOSH provides details on respiratory protection programs (RPP).

Also available on The Hub are a collection of guides, such as Common Falls in Construction and Prevention Strategies, Best Practices for Hazardous Materials Handling, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): An Essential Safeguard, as well as webinars and videos.

Use these sources or search The Hub for more information on prevention measures related to OSHA’s top 10 citations.