OSHA Top 10
OSHA citations. They’re rampant, they hide in plain sight, and they have potentially dire consequences for your people and your bottom line. OSHA citations. The OSHA Top 10 eBook contains explanations of each hazard, along with warning signs to look out for, and prevention checklists you can use to improve compliance and minimize losses.
How to avoid the most frequently cited violations
OSHA citations–they’re rampant, they hide in plain sight, and they have potentially dire consequences for your people and your bottom line. Is your organization doing enough to avoid the most common Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations?
No matter how much you know (or think you know) about the most common workplace violations out there, it’s clear that organizations could use some help.
This list has remained largely unchanged for a decade. The reality is undeniable: many environment, safety, and health professionals are failing to adequately recognize and mitigate the greatest sources of workforce risk.
Every year, thousands of preventable incidents occur, causing needless injuries, illnesses, and—in some cases—deaths. From OSHA penalties to workers compensation claims to legal, operational, and reputational costs, businesses pay a significant toll.
Don’t let your employees or your organization become statistics. In this resource, you’ll learn how to avoid the 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards, one by one. The following pages contain explanations of each hazard, along with warning signs to look out for and prevention checklists you can use to improve compliance and minimize losses.
But before we begin, let’s take a closer look at what’s at stake—the price your organization pays when these hazards go unaddressed.
Every year, thousands of preventable incidents occur, causing needless
injuries, illnesses, and—in some cases—deaths.
The Cost of an OSHA Violation
OSHA penalties can exceed $16,550 per violation and as much per day for every day the issue hasn’t been fixed by OSHA’s deadline.
The fine for a willful or repeated violation can be 10 times as much. In 2024, the maximum penalty for such a violation is $165,514. Link
And those are just the direct costs. Organizations that don’t adequately address common workplace hazards can expect to pay hundreds of thousands—even millions—in indirect expenses.
Of course, the true costs of a safety violation are incalculable. No one can put a number on an employee’s life. Suffice it to say, it’s in your organization’s best interest to bring your annual number of injuries and illnesses to zero.
Fortunately, avoiding an OSHA citation isn’t as complex or cost-intensive as many people think. Small steps can save you 6 or 7 figures—or even save someone’s life.
Read on to learn about the 10 most common OSHA violations and what you can do today to reduce their chances of happening in your workplace.
Examples of indirect workplace hazards expenses
What OSHA's Top 10 Can't Tell You About Your Next Serious Injury
OSHA Top 10 Pop Quiz
OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations of 2026
Fall Protection: How to Avoid the Most Common OSHA Violation
OSHA Scaffolding: How to Stay In Line With OSHA’s Standard
OSHA Wiring and Electrical Safety: What You Need to Know
OSHA Respiratory Protection: How to Ensure Safety and Compliance
Respirator Medical Evaluations & Fit Testing: What OSHA Wants You to Know
OSHA and Ladder Safety: What You Need to Know
How to Stay Safe and Compliant With OSHA’s Forklift Standards
Lockout Tagout Procedures: Everything You Need To Know To Stay In Line With OSHA & LOTO
OSHA and EPA Penalties for 2026: Stay Out of Their Crosshairs
Fall Protection
General Requirements and Training Requirements
OSHA Definition
“Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations, or into holes in the floor and walls.” Link
Simple Definition
Slips, trips, and falls are the #1 reason employees get hurt or killed at work. OSHA expects employers to protect workers from falls, but falls keep happening nonetheless. Organizations just aren’t doing enough to prevent falls, and workers aren’t taking the issue seriously enough.
Falls are such a big deal that they occupy not one, but two spots on the OSHA Top 10 list. Combined, violations of these two standards accounted for nearly 9,000 OSHA citations in 2024—about 32% of all violations. And OSHA estimates that falls account for approximately 36% of all fatal injuries. Link
Hazard Communication
OSHA Definition
“OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is based on a simple concept— that employees have both a need and a right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working. They also need to know what protective measures are available to prevent adverse effects from occurring. OSHA designed the HCS to provide employees with the information they need to know.” Link
Simple Definition
The HCS is the way you’re supposed to inform your employees about dangerous chemicals in the workplace. It’s a set of rules that covers labeling and tracking chemicals, as well as employee training on chemicals.
Why Violations Happen
HCS violations usually happen because of the complexity and paperwork involved in compliance.
Organizations may fail to label their chemical containers properly, leave certain substances off of their chemical inventory lists, neglect to obtain SDS from manufacturers, or some combination of the above.
Many organizations get cited for not maintaining a hazard communication plan, or for failing to include necessary information in the written plan.
Sometimes, gaps in training can lead to violations. If not all workers have been trained, or if the training courses are incomplete or out of date, the organization can expect trouble from OSHA.
Ladders
OSHA Definition
“Working on and around stairways and ladders is hazardous. Stairways and ladders are major sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers for example, and many of the injuries are serious enough to require time off the job. OSHA rules apply to all stairways and ladders used in construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating and demolition of worksites covered by OSHA’s construction safety and health standards.” Link
Simple Definition
Ladders are dangerous. OSHA has specific rules about using ladders and working near ladders, as well as how ladders should be designed.
Why Violations Happen
Most ladder-related injuries and deaths are falls. Perhaps a worker slips on a wet rung of a fixed ladder, erroneously stands on the top rung of a step ladder and loses their balance, or comes crashing down with a poorly supported portable ladder.
In fact, many OSHA violations related to ladders come down to simple misuse and mismeasurement. Oftentimes, it’s unintentional. Other times, it’s willful—a worker or supervisor choosing to ignore basic safety precautions because they’re in a rush or believe the rules are unnecessary.
One of the most common issues is side rail height. Another common violation is using the top of a stepladder as a step.
Violations also happen when workers use ladders for unintended purposes, such as scaffolding, bracing, or as a work platform.
Finally, many violations involve the use of ladders with structural defects. A cracked, bent, rusty, or broken ladder is too hazardous to use.
Respiratory Protection
OSHA Definition
“In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.” Link
Simple Definition
Not all air is safe to breathe. The oxygen in a certain environment may contain hazardous fumes, dust, or other contaminants.
Common airborne contaminants include particulate matter (e.g. silica dust), smoke, gases, mists, vapors, and aerosols. These and other contaminants can cause short- and long-term health problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, impaired thinking, decreased lung capacity, loss of consciousness, and cancer.
OSHA’s respiratory protection standard outlines how organizations should minimize worker exposure to hazardous air. First, the standard requires employers to assess and minimize airborne hazards if possible. But if controlling the environment isn’t possible or doesn’t provide adequate protection, employers must provide their workers with respiratory devices (usually called “respirators”). The standard lays out which respirators to use—and how to use those respirators—in various situations, along with maintenance, inspection, and medical follow-up procedures.
Lockout / Tagout
OSHA Definition
“The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/ Tagout), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147, addresses the practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment, thereby preventing the release of hazardous energy while employees perform servicing and maintenance activities. The standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energies—electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources.” Link
Simple Definition
Some machines can seriously injure or kill workers. These machines are dangerous because they release hazardous energy—in the form of electricity, steam, chemicals, or another kind of power.
Hazardous energy can be released whether the machine is being used or not. This is why it’s important for dangerous machines to be completely shut off before servicing and maintenance. For example:
OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy standard, usually called the “Lockout/Tagout” standard (or LOTO for short), outlines what workers should do to safely depower dangerous machines. One of the main steps of lockout/tagout is literally locking the machine in the “off” position and adding a tag with the name of the person who carries the key to the lock.
Powered Industrial Trucks
aka Forklifts
OSHA Definition
“Powered industrial trucks, commonly called forklifts or lift trucks, are used in many industries, primarily to move materials. They can be used to move, raise, lower, or remove large objects or a number of smaller objects on pallets or in boxes, crates, or other containers. The hazards commonly associated with powered industrial trucks vary depending on the vehicle type and the workplace where the truck is used. Each type of truck presents different operating hazards. For example, a sit-down, counterbalanced high lift rider truck is more likely than a motorized hand truck to be involved in a falling load accident, because the sit-down rider truck can lift a load much higher than a hand truck. Workplace conditions also present different hazards. For example, retail establishments often face greater challenges than other worksites in maintaining pedestrian safety…” Link
Simple Definition
Countless businesses rely on forklifts, which OSHA likes to call “powered industrial trucks,” to move large/heavy objects. However, the things that make forklifts useful also make them dangerous. Loads can fall and crush people. Forklifts can tip over, injuring drivers and workers nearby. Pedestrians can get hit, which is especially common in workplaces where a lot of people are moving around on foot.
There are two primary kinds of forklift-related accidents.
The first is when forklifts tip over. Often, this is due to balancing issues. Other times, it happens when forklifts are driven too fast—the forklift turns too quickly, or hits an obstacle, and the operator loses control.
The second leading cause of forklift violations are pedestrian accidents. Perhaps a forklift operator doesn’t see a pedestrian, or a pedestrian isn’t paying attention and walks in front of a forklift. Sometimes, a load falls or a forklift tips over and strikes a bystander. Other times, pedestrians may be injured or killed by a forklift falling off a loading dock, or when they
themselves fall from an elevated pallet or tine (the “arm” of a forklift).
Keep in mind that it’s illegal for anyone under 18 years old to operate a forklift.
Scaffolding
OSHA Definition
OSHA’s scaffolding rules “[aim] to protect workers using scaffolding in construction work. Scaffolding hazards continue to rank high on the list of the most frequently cited standards in the construction industry. Scaffold-related fatalities account for a significant number of fatalities in the construction workplace.” Link
Simple Definition
A scaffold is a temporary structure that allows people to work in areas that are high off the ground or otherwise inaccessible. OSHA’s scaffolding standards lay out safe and proper methods for scaffolding used in construction jobs.
There are three types of scaffolds commonly used:
OSHA’s scaffolding standard covers each of these kinds of scaffolds, as well as ladders, stilts, protection from falling objects, weather conditions, and other related hazards. The standard is extensive and detailed, specifying everything from fall protection measures to guardrail height to inspections and training.
Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection
OSHA Definition
“Thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. OSHA requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment. Eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants and hazards. Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as ‘PPE,’ is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.” Link Link
Simple Definition
Personal protective equipment (“PPE” for short) is exactly what it sounds like: equipment people wear on their bodies to protect themselves. OSHA requires workers to wear PPE whenever they could become injured or sick by not wearing it.
There are many different kinds of PPE, with each piece designed for a specific job or working condition. Common examples of PPE include hard hats, safety glasses, goggles, face shields, gloves, steel-toed boots, respirators, earplugs, vests, coveralls, and other full body suits. PPE needs to fit comfortably and properly, or else it may not work as intended. It must be regularly inspected and maintained, and replaced when no longer functional. Employers must supply and pay for all PPE necessary to keep their employees safe.
Of all the body parts that PPE protects, the face and eyes are among the most vulnerable. Many safety incidents involve a worker’s face or eyes getting struck by an object, injured by flying particles, burned by acids or chemicals, or exposed to light radiation.
Machine Guarding
OSHA Definition
“Employee exposure to unguarded or inadequately guarded machines is prevalent in many workplaces. Consequently, workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer approximately 18,000 amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, abrasions, and over 800 deaths per year. Amputation is one of the most severe and crippling types of injuries in the occupational workplace, and often results in permanent disability.”Link
Simple Definition
Industrial equipment is dangerous. Machines such as power saws, shears, guillotine cutters, presses, milling machines, fans, conveyor belts, palletisers and revolving drums can slice, crush, and tear off workers’ body parts. Sometimes, hazards are caused by nip points (also called pinch points)—points where one or more parts (such as gears) rotate. In other cases, machines generate sparks or flying chips that can injure workers.
For these reasons, OSHA requires that certain pieces of equipment have specific protection
mechanisms in place. This is what’s known as machine guarding. Examples of machine guarding
include barriers, light curtains, and two-hand trips. Machine guarding typically applies to the point of operation—that is, the location on or near the machine where work is performed. However, many machines need to be safeguarded at multiple points. Additionally, there are plenty of instances where OSHA requires or recommends secondary controls, such as alarms and fences.
You Don’t Have to Manage Your OSHA Requirements Alone
Have questions? Looking for more detailed OSHA compliance guidance?
Novara is here to help.
This resource contains only a basic overview of the most common OSHA violations and how to avoid them. To truly protect your workforce and bottom line, you’ll need in-depth information—and not just about OSHA’s top 10, but every potential hazard that exists in your organization. You’ll also need to conduct a thorough evaluation of your facilities to identify current gaps and risk areas.
Novara’s unique combination of software, training, and services can provide the coverage your people and your organization need.
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