OSHA's Top 10 Most Cited Standards
The OSHA standards cited most often in federal inspections — fall protection, hazard communication, ladders, respirators, lockout/tagout and more — with what each requires and how to stay out of the list.
7 min read · Updated October 2026
Every year OSHA publishes the ten standards it cited most often during federal workplace inspections. The order shifts a little from year to year, but the same standards keep appearing. Fall Protection – General Requirements has been #1 for more than a decade.
Here is OSHA's list for fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024). Check osha.gov for the most recent year.
| # | Standard | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall Protection – General Requirements (construction) | 29 CFR 1926.501 |
| 2 | Hazard Communication | 29 CFR 1910.1200 |
| 3 | Ladders (construction) | 29 CFR 1926.1053 |
| 4 | Respiratory Protection | 29 CFR 1910.134 |
| 5 | Fall Protection – Training Requirements | 29 CFR 1926.503 |
| 6 | Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) | 29 CFR 1910.147 |
| 7 | Powered Industrial Trucks | 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| 8 | Scaffolding (construction) | 29 CFR 1926.451 |
| 9 | Eye and Face Protection (construction) | 29 CFR 1926.102 |
| 10 | Machine Guarding | 29 CFR 1910.212 |
What the list tells you
Most of these violations are visible. An inspector walking a site can see a missing guardrail, a ladder that doesn't extend 3 feet above the landing, an unguarded pulley, or a forklift operator with no training record. Those are exactly the conditions a supervisor can catch on a walkaround, and CiteSafe can flag from a photo.
The rest are paperwork and training failures: no written hazard communication program, no respirator fit test on file, no lockout/tagout procedures, no fall protection training certification. These are cheap to fix and expensive to be cited for.
Guides for each standard
- Fall protection requirements (1926.501 / 1910.28)
- Hazard communication (1910.1200)
- Ladders (1926.1053)
- Respiratory protection (1910.134)
- Lockout/tagout (1910.147)
- Powered industrial trucks (1910.178)
- Scaffolding (1926.451)
- Machine guarding (1910.212)
How to stay off the list
- Walk your site with these ten standards in mind before every shift change or new phase of work.
- Audit your written programs: HazCom, respiratory, LOTO, and fall protection training records.
- Photograph anything questionable and check it. CiteSafe returns the likely standard, severity, and fix in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is OSHA's most cited standard?
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Fall Protection – General Requirements for construction (29 CFR 1926.501) has been OSHA's most frequently cited standard for more than a decade.
Where does OSHA publish the top 10 list?
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OSHA publishes its Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for each fiscal year on osha.gov, typically announced in the fall.
Are the top 10 the most dangerous hazards?
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Not necessarily. The list reflects how often a standard is cited in federal inspections, which depends on how common the condition is and where OSHA focuses inspections, not only on severity.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and CiteSafe is not affiliated with OSHA. Always check the current text of 29 CFR at ecfr.gov and guidance at osha.gov. State Plan states may have additional or different requirements.