OSHA Reveals Top Cited Safety Violation in FY 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its Top 10 frequently cited workplace safety violations in FY 2024, according to a National Safety Council press release.

For the 14th straight year, Fall Protection-General Requirements tops the list of OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace safety violations. 

And the associated costs don’t stop at OSHA fines. A recent study found that falls are among the costliest workplace injuries. In fact, they’re in the top three workplace injuries with the highest compensation payouts.

OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations

Scott Ketcham, director of the directorate of enforcement programs, and Safety+Health magazine, presented the preliminary data during the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for FY 2024 are:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050
8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,541

How does this stack up against OSHA’s list of most frequently cited workplace safety standards for FY 2023?  

The top three spots remain the same – signaling that these areas present an ongoing problem.

HR pros may want to reach out to safety supervisors to ensure these three areas stay top of mind as we head into Q4.