Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases a “Top 10” list of the most frequently cited safety and health standards, a barometer of where employers most commonly fall short in protecting workers. For the fiscal 2025 year, the latest data reveals that many of the familiar “usual suspects” remain on the list, with Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) once again dominating the rankings. For safety managers, compliance officers, and business leaders, understanding which standards attract the most citations will help provide a roadmap for prioritizing corrective action, allocating training resources, and reducing costly penalties. In this article, we dig into the top 10 OSHA standards cited in 2025 and offer insight on how to avoid becoming a statistic.
Top Ten Cited OSHA Standards:
Preliminary data that was recently revealed during the 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo shows that many familiar compliance issues persist, reminding us that there’s still work to do to improve safety across all industries. From fall hazards to machine guarding, these are the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA workplace standards that made headlines below for 2025:
- Fall Protection– standard 1926.501, with 5,914 total violations.
- Hazard Communication– standard 1910.1200, with 2,546 total violations.
- Ladders– standard 1926.1053, with 2,405 total violations.
- Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)– standard 1910.147, with 2,177 total violations.
- Respiratory Protection– standard 1910.134, with 1,953 total violations.
- Fall Protection– Training Requirements-Standard 1926.503, with 1,907 total violations.
- Scaffolding– standard 1926.451, with 1,905 total violations.
- Powered Industrial Trucks– standard 1910.178, with 1,826 total violations.
- Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment– eye and Face Protection-standard 1926.102, with 1,665 total violations.
- Machine Guarding– standard 1910.212, with 1,239 total violations.
How to Avoid Getting Cited?
Avoiding these common citations starts with a proactive approach to safety. Here are a few practical steps to help keep your workplace compliant and your employees protected.
Stay informed: Keep up with the latest OSHA regulations and safety guidelines to stay ahead of potential risks. Staying current allows you to spot hazards early and take corrective action before they escalate.
Train your employees: Make sure all workers receive thorough, job-specific safety training. Well-trained employees are better equipped to recognize and avoid workplace hazards.
Conduct regular safety inspections: Schedule routine inspections to proactively identify unsafe conditions or practices. Addressing issues promptly helps prevent accidents and citations.
Provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE): Ensure every employee has the right PPE for their tasks, such as hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, or hearing protection and that they use it consistently.
Encourage hazard reporting: Foster open communication by urging employees to report potential hazards without fear of reprisal. Early reporting helps you correct risks before they cause harm.
Build a culture of safety: Make safety part of your company’s DNA. Lead by example, recognize safe behavior, and involve employees in identifying and solving safety challenges.
By following these tips, employers can help reduce the risk of OSHA violations and create a safer workplace for their employees.
