Each year, OSHA reveals its Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards to highlight the areas where workplaces most commonly fall short in ensuring employee safety. For 2024, the list reflects persistent safety challenges across industries, emphasizing the importance of proactive risk management.
OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Standards for FY 2024:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888 violations
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573 violations
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443 violations
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248 violations
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050 violations
8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873 violations
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814 violations
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,541 violations
For the 14th consecutive year, Fall Protection – General Requirements tops the list, with 6,307 violations. These violations often arise from employees working at heights without adequate fall protection systems, particularly in residential construction.
Hazard Communication remains the second most cited standard, with frequent violations tied to inadequate training and missing written hazard communication programs. Meanwhile, Ladders, Respiratory Protection, and Lockout/Tagout round out the top five, each reflecting critical safety gaps that can lead to severe injuries or fatalities.
This consistency in OSHA’s Top 10 year after year indicates a need for stronger, more effective safety cultures and strategies. Traditional compliance approaches may not be enough to address these persistent challenges.
How ARGO SH&E Can Help
At ARGO Safety, Health, & Environment Solutions (ARGO SH&E), we understand that safety is more than checking boxes—it’s about creating sustainable programs that truly protect your people. Whether you need help identifying risks, designing fit-for-purpose solutions, or building a lasting safety culture, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Let’s work together to move beyond compliance and build a workplace where safety is a core value. Contact ARGO SH&E today to learn how we can help you reduce risk, enhance safety, and safeguard your workforce for years to come.