OSHA’s Top 10 Violations for 2025

September 24, 2025

OSHA’s list of the top 10 most frequently cited standards for fiscal year 2025 is out—and once again it’s a roadmap to the hazards most likely to injure workers and/or draw enforcement on US jobsites. Below is a summary with quick actions you can take now.

 

The FY2025 Top 10 (with totals)

  1. Fall Protection—General (1926.501): 5,914

  2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,546

  3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,405

  4. Lockout/Tagout—Control of Hazardous Energy (1910.147): 2,177

  5. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 1,953

  6. Fall Protection—Training (1926.503): 1,907

  7. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,905

  8. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,826

  9. PPE—Eye & Face Protection (1926.102): 1,665

  10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,239

 

Notably, Fall Protection—General remains #1 for the 15th straight year, and OSHA emphasizes that these data are preliminary (positions may shift as cases close).

 

What changed vs. FY2024 (at a glance)

  • Respiratory Protection slid from #4 to #5.

  • Scaffolding climbed from #8 to #7.
    The rest of the list is dominated by jobsite basics—falls, access systems, energy control, and mobile equipment—reinforcing that the “blocking and tackling” of safety still prevents the most injuries and citations.

 

Field-Ready Actions by Topic

1) Fall Protection—General (1926.501)

  • Verify anchor point strength/placement; document selection criteria.

  • Enforce guardrails/covering for holes and leading edges; audit every shift.

  • Require PFAS where guardrails aren’t feasible; inspect harnesses and connectors each use.

2) Hazard Communication (1910.1200)

  • Keep a complete, current SDS library; ensure secondary container labeling.

  • Tailor your written HazCom program to actual site chemicals; train on your hazards, not generic slides.

3) Ladders (1926.1053)

  • Remove damaged ladders from service immediately; tag and lock them out.

  • Set angle (4:1 rule), secure top, extend 3 ft above landing; prohibit top-step standing.

4) Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)

  • Create machine-specific procedures (not just a generic policy); verify zero energy with test/try.

  • Train “authorized” vs. “affected” employees; document periodic inspections annually.

5) Respiratory Protection (1910.134)

  • Conduct hazard assessments to justify respirator selection; maintain medical evaluations and fit testing (initial/annual).

  • Implement cartridge change-out schedules and user seal checks.

6) Fall Protection—Training (1926.503)

  • Keep written training records (dates, topics, trainer, attendees).

  • Retrain after near misses, equipment changes, or when audits show gaps.

7) Scaffolding (1926.451)

  • Competent person must inspect daily and after any event; enforce full planking, guardrails, and access.

  • Control loads (no ad-hoc storage) and keep platforms free of debris/ice/mud.

8) Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)

  • Perform and log pre-use inspections; remove unsafe units.

  • Train/certify to worksite-specific conditions—surfaces, attachments, loads, traffic patterns.

9) Eye & Face Protection (1926.102)

  • Stock task-appropriate PPE (impact, chemical splash, UV, welding); enforce wear in cutting/grinding zones.

  • Provide over-the-glass (OTG) options and anti-fog solutions to boost compliance.

10) Machine Guarding (1910.212)

  • Guard points of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts; verify guards after maintenance.

  • Prohibit bypass devices unless under a documented, controlled procedure.

 

How to Use the List to Reduce Risk (and Citations)

1) Targeted audits. Run monthly audits aligned to the Top 10. Prioritize fall exposures, access systems (ladders/scaffolds), and mobile equipment interactions.

2) Close your paperwork gaps. OSHA frequently cites missing or incomplete written programs, training records, and inspections—especially for HazCom, LOTO, respiratory, and PIT. Build simple templates and standardize recordkeeping across sites.

3) Fix before you train. Training without engineering/administrative corrections rarely moves the needle. Address physical conditions (guardrails, covers, anchorage, guards) first, then retrain and verify competency.

4) Elevate the “competent person.” Clearly designate competent persons for scaffolds, fall protection, and excavations. Give them the authority (and time) to act on hazards immediately.

5) Treat this as leading-indicator data. OSHA publishes the list to spur prevention; don’t wait for an inspection to discover the same issues on your site. Remember: totals are preliminary and may change, but the hazard profile won’t.


Quick Checklist for Your Next Site Walk

Guardrails, covers, PFAS in place at all leading edges/openings

Ladders: correct angle, secured, no defects, proper use enforced

Scaffolds: daily competent-person inspection; full planking; compliant access/rails

HazCom: SDSs accessible; secondary containers labeled; written program current

Respiratory: medical evals, fit tests, change-out schedules documented

LOTO: machine-specific procedures; annual inspections; proper locks/tags

PITs: pre-use inspections; site-specific operator training/certifications

Eye/face PPE available and worn for cutting, grinding, chemicals

Machine guards installed and maintained; no bypasses

Training records complete for fall protection and other high-risk tasks

Final word

These are the violations inspectors are most likely to find—and the hazards most likely to hurt your crews. Use the list to focus your audits, refresh training and documentation, and tackle the obvious fixes first. It will improve safety and your inspection outcomes. Data are preliminary and may shift, but the priorities above are durable.



This summary is for general information only and not legal advice. Consult qualified counsel for site-specific compliance questions.
Top 10 OSHA Violations 2025