Published by Plaid Safety — Smart Strategies. Safer Workplaces.
Introduction
Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases its list of the Top 10 most frequently cited standards, offering a clear snapshot of where employers struggle to stay compliant.
While the list changes slightly from year to year, the lessons remain the same: compliance gaps often stem from incomplete training, missing documentation, or weak follow-through on corrective actions.
Understanding these recurring violations helps EHS professionals anticipate risks, strengthen programs, and prevent costly fines and injuries.
1️⃣ Fall Protection (1926.501)
Construction continues to lead the nation in fatal falls. Missing guardrails, unprotected edges, and improper tie-offs remain top causes.
💡 Pro Tip: Review anchorage points and personal fall-arrest gear quarterly.
🛠️ Recommended Tool: Guardian Fall Protection Kit — ANSI/OSHA CompliantComplete kit with harness, lifeline, and anchor — a go-to choice for EHS teams standardizing fall protection programs.
2️⃣ Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
Outdated SDSs, unlabeled containers, and incomplete employee training still dominate citations.
💡 Pro Tip: Audit chemical labels and SDS binders every six months.
📘 Recommended Resource: OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Book
The definitive HazCom reference — ideal for onboarding new supervisors and verifying label accuracy.
3️⃣ Ladders (1926.1053)
Thousands of violations each year stem from damaged ladders, overreaching, and unsecured positioning.
💡 Pro Tip: Inspect ladders weekly; tag out any with cracked rails or missing feet.
🪜 Recommended Tool: DeWalt 500lb Rated FG Stepladder 6' DXL3810-06
Non-conductive, heavy-duty, and trusted across manufacturing and maintenance operations.
4️⃣ Scaffolding (1926.451)
Improper planking, lack of guardrails, and missing competent-person inspections drive citations.
💡 Pro Tip: Train supervisors on scaffold load capacity and daily inspection checklists.
📖 Recommended Read: A Complete Guide on Scaffolding Safety: Best Practices on Scaffolding for Erectors, Supervisors & Inspectors under IS, BS & OSHA Standard. (Vol.1)
A field-ready reference for construction or maintenance crews working at elevation.
5️⃣ Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)
Forklift violations remain common — untrained operators, missed inspections, and unsafe speeds are frequent causes.
💡 Pro Tip: Make daily inspection logs mandatory before keys are issued.
📓 Recommended Tool:
Forklift Safety Poster – OSHA Compliance Guide for Workplace & Warehouse
OSHA-formatted checklist booklet that simplifies documentation and accountability.
6️⃣ Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)
Energy-control failures are among the costliest OSHA citations — often due to missing written procedures or verification steps.
💡 Pro Tip: Review every LOTO procedure annually and retrain authorized employees.
🔒 Recommended Tool: TRADESAFE Lockout Tagout Station with Loto Devices
Organized, durable, and ready for audits — a staple for compliant maintenance programs.
7️⃣ Respiratory Protection (1910.134)
Incomplete fit-testing, missing medical evaluations, and improper respirator storage remain widespread.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep a written respiratory protection plan and document fit tests annually.
😷 Recommended PPE:
Lightweight comfort and superior seal - NIOSH Approved
8️⃣ Fall Protection Training (1926.503)
Even when systems exist, failing to train and document properly leads to repeat citations.
💡 Pro Tip: Conduct refresher training any time new equipment or procedures are introduced.
📗 Recommended Resource:
Updated annually — the go-to field manual for trainers and compliance leads.
9️⃣ Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment - Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)
Flying debris, chemicals, and poor PPE enforcement continue to cause preventable injuries.
💡 Pro Tip: Require PPE inspections at the start of every shift.
🕶️ Recommended PPE:
Lightweight, anti-fog, and ANSI Z87.1-rated — a simple upgrade that improves compliance.
🔟 Machine Guarding (1910.212)
Unguarded belts, pulleys, and points of operation remain a leading cause of amputations.
💡 Pro Tip: Incorporate guard inspections into preventive-maintenance rounds.
📘 Recommended Read: Machine Guarding Handbook by NSC
Practical guidance and clear illustrations — essential for maintenance and safety engineers.
Action Steps for EHS Leaders
To stay ahead of the curve:
Audit your top 10 programs quarterly. Create a checklist for each standard and assign owners.
Refresh training annually — and document attendance and quizzes.
Perform spot inspections on high-risk activities like forklift use or fall protection gear.
Engage your team. Use gamified observation programs or leaderboard challenges to make safety visible and rewarding.
Use digital tracking tools like Plaid Safety to schedule audits, flag overdue actions, and analyze trends before OSHA does.
How Plaid Safety Helps
Plaid Safety simplifies compliance by automating many of the tasks that lead to OSHA citations:
Audit Scheduler: Set recurring inspections for each OSHA standard.
Corrective Action Tracker: Assign and follow up on fixes directly from your dashboard.
Training Library: Upload toolbox talks or policy PDFs for easy access and documentation.
Leaderboards: Turn engagement into motivation by recognizing teams that close the most hazards.
Ready to see how Plaid Safety can help you stay off the Top 10 list?
Sources
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards.”
National Safety Council. “OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations, 2024.”
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