OSHA Violations: A Detailed List (Most Common, Most Serious, and More)

In 2022, private employers reported 2.8 million workplace injuries and illnesses. Fatal work injuries also increased to 5,486—showing just how important it is to keep job sites safe and follow OSHA rules under US Labor Laws. OSHA violations can cost companies big and put workers at risk.

This guide breaks down the most common and serious OSHA violations, with examples and tips for avoiding them. By understanding these violations and taking action, you can help keep your team safe and avoid the high costs that come with non-compliance.

Let’s get into the details of these OSHA violations and how to prevent them.

Types of OSHA Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) categorizes violations based on their severity and the employer’s level of responsibility. Here’s a breakdown of each type of violation:

• Willful Violations: When an employer knowingly disregards or shows indifference to OSHA regulations, it’s considered a willful violation. These are the most serious infractions and may lead to criminal charges in severe cases.
• Serious Violations: If a hazard could cause serious injury or death, and the employer knew or should have known about it, it’s classified as a serious violation. This type of violation reflects an employer’s responsibility to recognize and address known dangers.
• Repeated Violations: When a company has previously been cited for a similar safety issue and fails to correct it, any recurrence is considered a repeated violation. These demonstrate ongoing non-compliance and attract stricter scrutiny from OSHA.
• Failure to Abate: If a company does not resolve a violation by the given deadline, it is considered a failure to abate. Each day the issue goes uncorrected can lead to additional consequences until the problem is addressed.
• De Minimis Violations: These involve minor issues that don’t directly impact health or safety. They are often noted during inspections but usually don’t result in formal action.
• Other-Than-Serious Violations: These violations relate to safety and health but are not likely to cause severe harm. However, they still require attention to ensure workplace safety and compliance with OSHA standards.

Understanding these categories helps businesses recognize the risks associated with different types of violations and the potential legal and financial consequences of each.

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Detailed List of Most Common OSHA Violations

OSHA publishes an annual list of the top ten most frequently cited standards to highlight common safety hazards. This list helps businesses take action to prevent incidents, injuries, and costly penalties. As such, they can ensure workplace safety. Below is the most recent list.

1. Fall Protection, Construction (29 CFR 1926.501)

Falls are one of the leading causes of fatalities in construction, making fall protection OSHA’s most frequently cited violation.

Examples:

• Workers performing roof work without safety harnesses.
• Missing guardrails on elevated platforms.
• Unsecured or improperly installed safety nets on construction sites.

This standard requires employers to provide safeguards like guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems to prevent falls from heights. In construction, these safeguards are critical due to the prevalence of elevated work areas and open edges on job sites.

More information on the Fall Protection regulation and additional resources are available through OSHA’s Stop Falls Stand-Down campaign, which aims to raise awareness and reduce fall-related incidents.

2. Hazard Communication, General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)

Many worksites use hazardous chemicals, making it essential for employers to have a strong hazard communication program.

Examples:

• Chemicals stored without proper labeling.
• Employees handling hazardous materials without access to safety data sheets (SDS).
• Lack of training on proper handling and emergency response for chemical spills.

OSHA’s standard requires clear labeling, safety data sheets, and thorough employee training on chemical hazards to protect workers.

By following the Hazard Communication regulation, employers can help reduce chemical exposure risks. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Program provides guidelines and resources to ensure compliance with labeling, training, and documentation requirements, all aimed at keeping employees safe around hazardous materials.

3. Ladders, Construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)

Unsafe ladder practices can lead to falls, making ladder-related citations common in construction.

Examples:

• Using ladders on unstable or uneven surfaces.
• Positioning ladders at incorrect angles or heights.
• Using damaged or poorly maintained ladders on job sites.

OSHA’s standard on ladders addresses the safe design, use, and maintenance of ladders, aiming to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Key requirements include using ladders only on stable surfaces and ensuring proper ladder angles and support.

The Ladder regulation provides more details, and OSHA also offers resources on reducing falls specific to ladder safety in the construction industry.

4. Scaffolding, Construction (29 CFR 1926.451)

Scaffolding violations occur frequently due to improper construction, design, and inspection practices.

Examples:

• Scaffolding with missing guardrails.
• Insufficient cross-bracing on scaffolding setups.
• Lack of inspection by a competent person before use.

This standard covers the safe setup and use of scaffolds, including guardrails, cross-bracing, and secure planking to prevent falls and structural failures. OSHA requires scaffolds to be inspected by a competent person before use and after any modifications.

For comprehensive guidelines, refer to the Scaffolding regulation, and explore OSHA’s scaffolding safety resources to help avoid common risks associated with scaffolding.

5. Powered Industrial Trucks, General Industry (29 CFR 1910.178)

Powered industrial trucks, like forklifts, present a range of safety challenges due to the risk of tipping, collisions, and falls.

Examples:

• Untrained employees operating forklifts.
• Exceeding forklift load limits or improper load handling.
• Inadequate forklift maintenance leading to operational hazards.

OSHA’s standard addresses safe operating practices, including load handling, speed control, and vehicle maintenance to prevent accidents. Training for operators is crucial, as untrained use of powered trucks can lead to serious injuries.

The Powered Industrial Trucks regulation provides specific requirements, and OSHA’s powered industrial trucks safety page offers additional resources to ensure safe operations.

6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), General Industry (29 CFR 1910.147)

Lockout/tagout procedures are essential for protecting workers from machinery start-up during maintenance.

Examples:

• Failing to use lockout devices during equipment repairs.
• Not labeling lockout devices or explaining procedures to employees.
• Neglecting regular audits or refresher training for lockout/tagout procedures.

OSHA’s standard requires employers to develop and enforce procedures for isolating hazardous energy sources, such as electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems. Proper training and regular audits of lockout/tagout protocols help prevent accidental energy releases that could injure or kill workers.

Learn more about the Lockout/Tagout regulation and review OSHA’s guidelines on controlling hazardous energy to maintain safe procedures.

7. Respiratory Protection, General Industry (29 CFR 1910.134)

In industries with airborne hazards, respiratory protection is essential for safeguarding workers’ health.

Examples:

• Employees using respirators without fit testing.
• Missing medical evaluations for workers using respirators.
• Lack of regular maintenance or replacement for respirators.

OSHA’s standard covers the selection, fit, and maintenance of respirators to protect workers from inhaling harmful dust, fumes, and gases. Employers are required to develop a respiratory protection program, including fit testing and regular medical evaluations.

For detailed guidance, see the Respiratory Protection regulation and OSHA’s respiratory protection resources to help implement effective programs.

8. Fall Protection Training, Construction (29 CFR 1926.503)

Fall protection training is critical in construction, where falls are a leading cause of accidents.

Examples:

• Workers on roofs who haven’t been trained to use harnesses.
• No refresher training on fall protection systems.
• Unclear procedures for employees working near unprotected edges.

OSHA’s standard mandates that employers provide training on the safe use of fall protection systems and equipment, helping workers understand how to identify hazards and use safety gear properly.

The Fall Protection Training regulation outlines training requirements, and OSHA’s fall protection training guide offers additional resources for implementing an effective training program.

9. Eye and Face Protection, Construction (29 CFR 1926.102)

Eye and face injuries are preventable with the proper use of protective gear, especially on construction sites where workers are exposed to flying particles, chemicals, and intense light.

Examples:

• Workers exposed to flying debris without goggles.
• Lack of face shields during tasks involving chemicals.
• Insufficient protection when using machinery that emits sparks or particles.

OSHA’s standard requires employers to provide and ensure the use of protective equipment like goggles and face shields.

Learn more about the Eye and Face Protection regulation, and explore OSHA’s eye and face protection resources to protect workers effectively.

10. Machinery and Machine Guarding, General Industry (29 CFR 1910.212)

Machine guarding helps prevent injuries by covering hazardous machine parts.

Examples:

• Machines without guards on moving parts.
• Inadequate protection on machines with rotating or sharp components.
• Workers operating machines without proper training on machine guarding.

This standard requires guards for points of operation, rotating parts, and other areas that could pose risks to workers. Proper machine guarding prevents injuries like cuts, amputations, and crushes.

The Machinery and Machine Guarding regulation provides specific guarding requirements, and OSHA’s machine guarding resources offer guidance to keep machinery safe to operate.

The video below provides visual insights into key OSHA violations and offers practical tips on avoiding them:

Consequences of OSHA Violations

Not following OSHA standards comes with serious consequences. Violations can lead to high costs, disrupt work, and damage a company’s reputation. Here’s how OSHA violations can impact a business:

Legal Repercussions

OSHA violations often come with fines, which depend on the type of violation:

• De Minimis Violations: These are minor issues and usually don’t result in fines.
• Other-Than-Serious Violations: Fines can go up to $16,131 per violation.
• Serious Violations: If a hazard could cause serious harm and the employer should have known, fines can reach $16,131.
• Willful Violations: Ignoring OSHA rules on purpose can lead to fines up to $161,323 and, in some cases, criminal charges.
• Repeated Violations: If the same violation happens again, fines can be as high as $161,323.
• Failure to Abate: If a problem isn’t fixed by the set deadline, the company may face daily fines of up to $16,131 until it’s resolved.

These fines can add up quickly, especially if there are multiple violations.

Financial and Operational Impact

Beyond fines, OSHA violations come with extra costs. They can raise insurance premiums, lead to legal fees, and require spending on fixing the issues. Violations may also slow down work or even cause shutdowns, which disrupt operations. This downtime can result in missed deadlines, higher labor costs, and lost business.

Health and Safety Risks

OSHA violations put workers at risk. Unsafe conditions increase the chances of accidents and injuries. When workers feel unsafe, morale drops, and productivity suffers. Serious injuries can lead to absences, stress, and a negative work environment. A company known for safety risks may also struggle to keep and attract skilled workers.

Reputational Damage

A history of OSHA violations can harm a company’s reputation. News about safety violations can spread quickly and affect how clients, partners, and potential employees view the business. A poor safety record can make it harder to get new clients and win contracts.

Negative publicity, both locally and online, can damage a brand’s image. Companies with unsafe practices may also struggle to attract good employees, as workers often prefer safer environments.

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Learn about labor laws in specific states. Start by reading the following:

• Arkansas Labor Laws: A Complete Guide to Wages, Breaks, Overtime, and More (2025)
• Montana Labor Laws: A Complete Guide to Wages, Breaks, Overtime, and More (2025)
• New York Labor Laws: A Complete Guide to Wages, Breaks, Overtime, and More (2025)
• Oklahoma Labor Laws: A Complete Guide to Wages, Breaks, Overtime, and More (2025)
• Wisconsin Labor Laws: A Complete Guide to Wages, Breaks, Overtime, and More (2025)

Practical Tips to Avoid Common Violations

Maintaining OSHA compliance requires proactive steps to keep your workplace safe. By focusing on prevention and consistent practices, you can avoid common violations and protect your team.

Here are some practical tips to help your business stay compliant and safe.

• Routine Safety Audits: Regular checks to spot and fix hazards early.
• Effective Employee Training: Ongoing training on safety standards and equipment use.
• Recordkeeping and Documentation: Keep detailed records of audits, training, and corrective actions.
• Proactive Safety Policies: Set clear protocols for high-risk tasks like fall protection and lockout/tagout.
• Digital Tools: Use safety software to track compliance and simplify oversight.

Navigating OSHA Inspections and Compliance

Preparing for OSHA inspections and handling them professionally can make the process smoother. Here are key steps for each stage of an inspection:

• Preparation Tips: Conduct regular safety audits, keep thorough records, and ensure all employees are trained on safety protocols. Designate a knowledgeable representative to accompany inspectors and address questions.
• During the Inspection: Greet the inspector professionally and provide access to required documents. Answer questions honestly but keep responses focused. Ensure the designated representative is present throughout the inspection to take notes and clarify details as needed.
• After the Inspection: Review any citations carefully and take immediate corrective action. Document the steps taken to address each issue, and implement any needed changes to prevent future violations.

Wrapping Everything Up

Ensuring OSHA compliance is crucial for creating a safe and productive work environment. Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways:

• Prevention is Paramount: Understanding common OSHA violations helps businesses proactively identify and mitigate hazards, ensuring a safer workplace.
• Legal and Human Impact: OSHA violations can have serious legal and financial repercussions, but more importantly, they can threaten worker well-being. Prioritizing safety is both a regulatory obligation and a moral responsibility.
• Compliance Requires Vigilance: Staying compliant is an ongoing process. Regular training, routine audits, and fostering a culture of safety are essential for maintaining OSHA standards.
• Inspections as Opportunities: OSHA inspections offer valuable insights. Use them as opportunities to refine and enhance safety measures, continuously improving workplace safety.

Stay Compliant and Keep Your Team Safe

Understanding and avoiding OSHA violations is essential for keeping your team safe and protecting your business from costly penalties. By following safety standards, conducting regular audits, and staying prepared for inspections, you can maintain a compliant and productive workplace.

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