Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released their top 10 most frequently cited citations across all general and construction industries that occurred in 2024. Each year, OSHA will report and post top citation data from the year prior online for public observation, shedding light on citation trends and areas of compliance worth considering.
It is imperative employers pay close attention to trending citations each year to act as a benchmark for the year ahead. Identification of citation trends can help employers identify and focus on areas of their own business that may need attention and get a head start on mitigating risks and potential citations present. Preventing OSHA violations inherently leads to lower injury rates, improvement of safe work conditions and practices, as well as fostering an overall safer and better work culture for employees.
What is OSHA?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a US government agency that ensures safe and healthy working conditions for employees through a few key methods:
Setting Standards:
OSHA establishes regulations and guidelines that specify safety and health requirements for different industries. These standards cover a wide range of hazards, from chemical exposure to machine safety.
Enforcement:
OSHA conducts inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with its standards. Inspectors can issue citations and fines for violations, encouraging employers to rectify unsafe conditions.
Whistleblower Protections:
OSHA enforces laws that protect employees who report unsafe working conditions or violations. This encourages workers to speak up without fear of retaliation.
Research and Data Collection:
OSHA conducts research to identify workplace hazards and develop new safety standards. They also gather data on workplace injuries and illnesses to inform policy decisions. Through use of these strategies, OSHA works to minimize workplace hazards and protect the health and safety of workers across various industries. OSHA covers most private sector employers and their employees in the United States, as well as some state and local government workers. OSHA does not cover self-employed workers, immediate family members of farm employers, and workers whose hazards are regulated by another federal agency.
OSHA may show up to your business unannounced due to an employee complaint, reported fatality, referrals from other government agencies, follow-up inspections, or if your business is considered a “high risk” industry. Working with OSHA can be intimidating if you are not prepared. Knowing the data behind even the most common violation is a step in the right direction for employers.
2024’s Most Cited Violations
OSHA penalties, even when negotiated, can be extremely expensive. OSHA’s largest fine to a single employer in 2024 was 2.5 million dollars. The financial impact of citations can include not only the fines themselves, but also potential costs associated with compliance, such as implementing safety measures, training employees, and making necessary equipment upgrades. Additionally, repeated violations can lead to higher penalties and increased scrutiny from OSHA. The best approach is to prevent OSHA violations and placing controls in your business to avoid whenever possible.
The most frequently cited violations in 2024 were:
- Fall protection: 6,307 violations
- Hazard communication: 2,888 violations
- Ladders: 2,573 violations
- Respiratory protection: 2,470 violations
- Lockout/tagout: 2,443 violations
- Powered industrial trucks: 2,248 violations
- Fall Protection Training: 2,050 violations
- Scaffolding: 1,873 violations
- Eye and face protection: 1,814 violations
- Machine guarding: 1,541 violation
Machine Guarding
Coming in at the 10th most cited violation is machine guarding. This violation is cited mostly in general industry environments such as metal/machine shops. The objective of OSHA’s machine guarding standard is to prevent amputations and other serious injuries caused by equipment and machinery that lack proper guarding or have insufficient protection with current guarding. These standards are designed to ensure the safety of employees working on or near machinery by requiring appropriate safeguards to mitigate risks. By implementing these measures, OSHA aims to protect workers from hazards such as moving parts, flying debris, and other dangers associated with machinery operations. The tricky part about machine guarding is not all new equipment will come with standard guarding and guarding older machines can often cause operational challenges. A hazard assessment of all new and existing equipment is needed in order to see if your workplace has sufficient guarding.
Eye & Face Protection
OSHA lists the 9th most cited violation as eye, and face protection, most often cited in the construction industry, with 1,814 violations. Construction work involves numerous hazards, including flying objects and debris, making eye and face protection essential. To safeguard workers from potential injuries such as cuts, abrasions, or more serious damage to the eyes and face, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety glasses, goggles, or face shields must be used. This protective gear helps prevent injuries from tools, materials, and other environmental factors. Most of the citations listed stemmed from employees simply not wearing eye and face protection.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding dropped from being the 4th most cited violation in 2023 to 8th most cited in 2024. Several citations were due to employees working from heights with lack of adequate protection from falls. Within the construction industry, scaffolding is frequently utilized. The mere existence of scaffolding alone does not replace the requirement for scaffolding to be properly protected with guard railing, proper baseplates, and placement to safely access.
Fall Protection Training
For the 7th most cited violation, OSHA tags fall protection. It is important to note that the wearing of fall protection on its own without proper training is insufficient. Comprehensive training on fall protection is essential, including documented instruction on how to safely use personal fall arrest systems, understanding fall hazards, and complying with other relevant elements of the standard. This type of training is crucial for ensuring that workers can effectively protect themselves from falls. Notably, violations related to fall protection training have been among the most cited within the construction industry, specifically roofing and siding contractors, highlighting the need for employers to prioritize safety education and compliance.
Powered Industrial Trucks
Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT), generally known as forklifts, accounted for 2,248 violations cited in general industry environments in 2024 and rolled in as the 6th most common violation area. In this category, violations mainly stemmed from unsafe operation of PIT and lack of documented fresher training, as well as evaluations. Companies often overlook the specific requirements of PITs, which includes classroom training, hands-on operational training, final observation, and lastly, certification from a qualified instructor versed on forklift safety.
Other items considered under this standard include documented daily inspections, refresher training, and executed procedures for taking unsafe PIT out of service when in need of repair. Incorporating a robust training and maintenance program is imperative so employees do not feel forced to drive unsafe equipment, nor result in a regular occurrence of unsafe driving. Forklifts are not lightweight and can easily cause serious injuries and fatalities when not controlled. Just as training and enforcement when driving a standard motor vehicle is important, the same sentiment exists for PITs.
Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
Having a comprehensive written lockout/tagout program including updated, updated, written machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, frequent inspections, training, and accountability for employees working with hazardous energy are all required components of OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy Standard Improper controls regarding lockout/tagout lead to multiple injuries, and even fatalities, every year.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory Protection moved up to the number 4 on the list of most cited violations in general industry with 2,470 total violations in 2024. There are a few elements to a comprehensive respiratory program if your operation exposes employees to respirable dust such as silica. Having an updated written program, proper medical evaluations, fit-testing, and proper training can help prevent OSHA violations under this standard. Specific industries cited most frequently under this standard were wood and countertop manufacturing, stone-cutting manufacturing, and masonry contractors. OSHA has also implemented a program that triggers more frequent inspections for those working with specifically silica exposures.
Ladders
Ladders, specifically under the OSHA construction standard, were the 3rd most cited violation in 2024 at 2,573 violations. Similar to 2023, the most common violation was due to a lack of proper siderails. Other cited violations pertaining to the ladder standard were due to misuse of ladders. Employers should remember that even with properly designed ladders, proper use is also important.
Hazard Communication
With a total of 2,888, Hazard Communication was, once again, the 2nd most-cited OSHA violation in 2024. Hazard Communication is an OSHA standard that is commonly overlooked by industries using chemicals or other hazard materials within their operations. Key elements to the hazard communication standard cited inadequate or missing written programs, inadequate documentation of training for employees, and lack of easily accessible Safety Data Sheets (SDS), previously known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) prior to the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) by OSHA. Several companies within both construction and general industries were cited.
Fall Protection
The number 1 most-cited OSHA violation in 2024, which may not come as a surprise for those working within the industry, was a lack of fall protection for the 14th consecutive year in a row. Fall protection accounted for 6,307 violations in 2024. The main 1916.501 standard violated stems from employees working in both residential and commercial construction at heights of 6 feet or more without adequate fall protection including guard rails, personal fall arrest systems, or by other means. Companies must do their due diligence and regularly control for fall hazards present to their employees in order to prevent not only serious OSHA violations and penalties, but their employees from injury and fatality while at work.
Sentinel Risk Performance Group
By reviewing trends in OSHA violation types across industries, employers can take the initiative and prevent potential violations, as well as engage in proactive measures to prevent future violations and potential losses. Sentinel provides a team of experienced Risk Engineering and Safety Consultants that offer customized service plans designed to assist companies maintain OSHA compliance and implement additional risk management solutions to support your company’s success. Contact Sentinel today to learn more about Safeguarding Your Success.
