OSHA Violations in 2022 - The Current Top 10 List of Most Commonly Cited OSHA Safety Violations
Talk shows have their Top 1- lists and so does OSHA! Even
though it is 2022, the most recent year for which OSHA has released its top 10 most frequently cited violations of OSHA standards for all companies and industries in
is 2020 (that's the most recent year available - it takes them a couple of years to receive the data, tabulate it, etc.) .
I'll go out on a limb and postulate that when the 2020 data comes in, it will show the fewest inspections and fewest violations in many, many years; due to
Coronavirus.
In 2020, OSHA conducted 21,674 inspections, including 12,948 (about 60 percent) unprogrammed inspections, which includes employee complaints,
injuries/fatalities, and referrals, all of which were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these 21,674 inspections, 8,726 (about 40 percent) were
programmed inspections that focused OSHA’s enforcement resources towards industries and operations where known hazards exist (e.g., combustible
dusts, chemical processing, ship-breaking, and falls in construction).
This list of top 10 accounts for almost half of all violations issued by OSHA. Here it is with the regulation, a link to the exact
language of the regulation and citation, a general description and the total of penalties assessed. .
OSHA Inspection Statistics
OSHA Inspection Statistics |
FY 2015 |
FY 2016 |
FY 2017 |
FY 2018 |
FY 2019 |
FY 2020* |
Total Inspections |
35,280 |
31,948 |
32,408 |
32,023 |
33,393 |
21,674 |
Total Programmed Inspections |
16,527 |
12,731 |
14,377 |
13,956 |
14,900 |
8,726 |
Total Unprogrammed Inspections |
19,293 |
19,217 |
18,031 |
18,067 |
18,493 |
12,948 |
~
Fatality/Catastrophe Inspections |
912 |
890 |
837 |
941 |
919 |
1,508 |
~
Complaints Inspection |
9,037 |
8,870 |
8,249 |
7,489 |
7,391 |
4,581 |
~
Referrals* |
6,569 |
6,691 |
6,286 |
6,463 |
6,718 |
4,808 |
~
Other Unprogrammed Inspections |
3,686 |
2,766 |
2,659 |
3,174 |
3,465 |
2,051 |
*The
COVID-19 global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 occurred during this time. FY20 enforcement OIS data is
preliminary and as of November 9, 2020. |
Top 10 OSHA Violations List
- Fall Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
(Construction standard) - 6,010 down from 8,241 violations 4 years ago. Any time a
worker is at a height of four feet or more, the worker is at risk and
needs to be protected. Fall protection must be provided at four feet in
general industry, five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Hazard Communication Standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
3,671 down from 6,156 violations in 2015 - Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or
import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.[related
OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]]
- Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
(Construction standard) - 2,813 down from 5,423 violations in 2015 - Scaffold accidents
most often result from the planking or support giving way, or from the
employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.[related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Lockout / Tagout (a.k.a, Control of Hazardous Energy),
general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
-
2,606 down from 3,254 violations - "Lockout-Tag out"
refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from
the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of
hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.[related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Respiratory Protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) -
2,450 down from 3,879 violations - Respirators
protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts,
fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. These hazards may cause
cancer, lung impairment, other diseases or death. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) Construction standard) -
2,345 down from 3,311 violations - Occupational fatalities caused by falls remain a serious public health problem.
The US Department of Labor (DOL) lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all
occupational fatalities from trauma. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Powered Industrial Trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) -
2,093 down from 3,340 violations - Each year,
thousands of injuries related to powered industrial trucks (PIT), or
forklifts, occur in US workplaces. Many employees are injured when lift
trucks are inadvertently driven off
loading docks,
lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer, they are struck by a
lift truck, or when
they fall while on elevated pallets and tines. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Fall Protection�Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)
1,743 violations. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Machinery and Machine Guarding, general
requirements (29 CFR 1910.212) -
1,743 down from 2,701 violations - Any machine part,
function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded. When the
operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the operator or
others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
- Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102)
- 1,411 violations. [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
-
Electrical, Wiring Methods -
1910.305 - 3,452 violations - Working
with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians and other
professionals work with electricity directly, including working on
overhead lines,
cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office
workers and sales people, work with electricity indirectly and may also
be exposed to electrical hazards.
-
1910.303 - Electrical, General Requirements - 2,745 violations -
Working with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians, and
other professionals work with electricity directly, including working on
overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as
office workers and sales people, work with electricity indirectly and
may also be exposed to electrical hazards.
(source OSHA.gov for Fiscal 2019 (Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2019).
Generally, OSHA does not post the top ten violations until after the first week in April, so as to allow the prior fiscal year�s inspection data to
finalize past the close of the fiscal year (September 30th). COVID may slow that further for 2020, 2021, and even 2022.
Other useful OSHA statistics
Federal OSHA is a small agency; even with their state counterparts,
they have approximately 1,850 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8 million worksites around the
nation; which translates to about one compliance officer for every 70,000 workers.,
compare that with 2015 when they had one compliance officer for every 59,000 workers.
Federal OSHA has 10 regional offices and 90 local area offices.
OSHA budget
FY 2021 $591,787,000
FY 2020 $581,787,000
FY 2019 $557,787,000
FY 2015: $552,787,000
FY 2014: $552,247,000
FY 2013: $535,246,000
OSHA inspections
FY 2014 total federal inspections: 36,163
FY 2014 total State Plan
inspections: 47,217
Worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities
- 4,405 workers were killed on the job in 2013 [BLS preliminary 2013
workplace fatality data] (3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers)
- on average, 85 a week or more than 12 deaths every day. (This is the
lowest total since the fatal injury census was first conducted in 1992.)
- 797 Hispanic or Latino workers were killed from work-related
injuries in 2013-on average, more than 15 deaths a week or two Latino
workers killed every single day of the year, all year long.
- Fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 17 percent
of all fatal work injuries in 2013.
Construction's "Fatal Four"
Out of 3,929* worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year
2013, 796 or 20.3% were in construction―that is, one in five worker deaths
last year were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on
construction sites were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution,
and caught-in/between. These "Fatal Four" were responsible for more than
half (58.7%) the construction worker deaths in 2013*, BLS reports.
Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 468 workers' lives in America every
year.
Falls
294 out of 796 total deaths in construction in calendar year 2013
(36.9%)
Struck by Object - 82 (10.3%)
Electrocutions - 71 (8.9%)
Caught-in/between - 21 (2.6%)
Comparison: The 2008 violations list
1.
1926.451 - Scaffolding - (same rank as 2009) - 9,093 violations - Scaffold accidents most
often result from the planking or support giving way, or from the
employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.
2.
1926.501 - Fall Protection - (same rank as 2009) - 6,771 violations
3.
1910.1200 - Hazard Communication -(same rank as 2009) -
6,378 violations
4.
1910.134 - Respiratory Protection - (same rank as 2009) - 3,803 violations - Respirators
protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts,
fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. These hazards may cause
cancer, lung impairment, other diseases or death.
5.
1926.1053 - Ladders - (was #7 in 2009) - 3,072 violations - Occupational fatalities caused
by falls remain a serious public health problem. The US
Department of Labor
(DOL) lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational
death, accounting for eight percent of all occupational fatalities from
trauma.
6.
1910.147 - Lockout/Tagout- (was #5 in 2009) - 3,321 violations - "Lockout-Tag out"
refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from
the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of
hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.
7.
1910.305 - Electrical, Wiring Methods - (was #6 in 2009) - 3,079 violations - Working with
electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians and other
professionals work with electricity directly, including working on
overhead lines,
cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office
workers and sales people, work with electricity indirectly and may also
be exposed to electrical hazards.
8.
1910.178 - Powered Industrial Trucks - (was #8 in 2009) - 2,993 violations - Each year,
tens of thousands of injuries related to powered industrial trucks
(PIT), or forklifts, occur in US workplaces. Many employees are injured
when lift trucks are inadvertently driven off
loading docks,
lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer, they are struck by a
lift truck, or when
they fall while on elevated pallets and tines.
9.
1910.303 - Electrical, General Requirements - (was #9 in 2009) - 2,556 violations - Working with electricity
can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians, and other professionals work
with electricity directly, including working on overhead lines, cable
harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers and
sales people, work with electricity indirectly and may also be exposed
to electrical hazards.
10. 1910.212 - Machine Guarding
- (was #10 in 2009) - 2,364 violations - Any machine
part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded.
When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the
operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or
controlled.
10 Year Trend
For a 10 year comparison of trends, here is the 2004 list.
Each item is prefaced with the regulation that was violated. Not a
great deal of change.
1. 29CFR1926.451 -- Scaffolding; 8,654 total violations; $3,566,107 in penalties;
2. 29CFR1910.1200 -- Hazard communication; 7,320 total violations; $745,810 in penalties;
3. 29CFR1926.501 -- Fall protection; 5,666 total violations; $3,255,974 in penalties;
4. 29CFR1910.134 -- Respiratory protection; 4,312 total violations; $562,372 in penalties;
5. 29CFR1910.147 -- Lockout/tagout; 4,307 total violations; $1,950,134 in penalties;
6. 29CFR1910.305 -- Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment machine guarding; 3,337 total violations; $813,462 in penalties;
7. 29CFR1910.212 -- Machine guarding; 3,249 total violations; $2,277,629 in penalties;
8. 29CFR1910.178 -- Powered industrial trucks; 3,149 total violations; $1,084,870 in
penalties;
9. 29CFR1910.303 -- Electrical systems design; 2,412 total violations; $757,568 in penalties;
10. 29CFR1910.219 -- Mechanical power-transmission apparatus; 2,333 total violations; $878,982 in penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions About OSHA Violations And OSHA Standards
-
How many inspectors does OSHA have?
Federal OSHA is a small agency;
with our state partners we have approximately 2,200 inspectors responsible
for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8
million worksites around the nation - which translates to about one
compliance officer for every 59,000 workers.
- Has my employer ever
been inspected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?
You can research your employer's inspection history through
OSHA's Establishment Search
. Type in the name of your company and choose the dates
you want to cover.
- What are the penalties for violating an OSHA standard?
The maximum penalty OSHA can assess, regardless of the circumstances, is
$7,000 for each serious violation and $70,000 for a repeated or willful violation. OSHA's penalty policy, including minimums, maximums and factors
considered when assessing the penalty, can be found in Chapter Six, page 151, of the Field Operations Manual
(PDF*). This is the most recent version, DIRECTIVE NUMBER: CPL 02-00-163 EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/13/2019
- What are employers' responsibilities under the Occupational Safety
and Health (OSH) Act?
Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe
workplace. Employers MUST provide their workers with a workplace that does
not have serious hazards and must follow all OSHA safety and health
standards. Employers must find and correct safety and health problems. OSHA
further requires that employers must first try to eliminate or reduce
hazards by making feasible changes in working conditions rather than relying
on personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, or earplugs.
Switching to safer chemicals, enclosing processes to trap harmful fumes, or
using ventilation systems to clean the air are examples of effective ways to
eliminate or reduce risks.
For more information, see the
Employer Responsibilities page
.
- What can I do if I think my workplace is unsafe?
Often the best and
fastest way to get a hazard corrected is to notify a supervisor or employer.
Workers, or their representatives, may file a complaint
and ask OSHA to
inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or their
employer is not following OSHA standards. A worker can tell OSHA not to let an
employer know who filed the complaint. It is against the OSH Act for an employer
to fire, demote, transfer or discriminate in any way against a worker for filing
a complaint or using other OSHA rights.
You can file a complaint online
; download the form [en espanol
*] and mail or fax it to the nearest OSHA office
; or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). Written, signed complaints submitted
to OSHA area offices are more likely to result in an on-site OSHA inspection.
Most online or unsigned complaints are resolved informally over the phone with
the employer. Complaints from workers in states with an OSHA-approved state plan
will be forwarded to the appropriate state plan for response.
Workers have the right to participate in an OSHA inspection and speak in private
with the inspector.
Where there is no union or employee representative, the OSHA inspector must talk
confidentially with a reasonable number of workers during the course of the
investigation.An inspector who finds violations of OSHA standards or serious hazards may issue
citations and fines. A citation includes the methods an employer must use to fix
a problem and the date by when the corrective actions must be completed. Workers
only have the right to challenge the deadline for when a problem must be
resolved. Employers, on the other hand, have the right to contest whether there
is a violation or any other part of the citation. Workers or their
representatives must notify OSHA that they want to be involved in the appeals
process if the employer challenges a citation.
If you send in a complaint requesting an OSHA inspection, you have the right to
find out the results of the OSHA inspection and request a review if OSHA decides
not to issue citations.
See OSHA's Workers' Rights page
for more information.
- OSHA's current inspections summary report is here and the
OSHA current top 10 violations list is on this page.