Written by , GLE Associates, Inc.

Annually, around 5,000 workers die and millions are injured on the job in the United States. Many of these deaths and injuries are preventable, caused by United States Occupational Safety and Health Agency (U.S. OSHA) violations.

In September, U.S. OSHA revealed preliminary data about the top ten violations they’ve cited in 2019. The list is largely unchanged from 2018, with two violations trading ranks in the list (respiratory protection took the place of control of hazardous energy-lockout/tagout).

The data reveal the largest areas of concern for worker safety and opportunities for employers to improve.

Top Ten Violations

RankStandardNumber of Citations
1Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)6,010
2Hazard Communication (1910.1200)3,671
3Scaffolding (1926.451)2,813
4Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)2,606
5Respiratory Protection (1910.134)2,450
6Ladders (1926.1053)2,345
7Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)2,093
8Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503)1,773
9Machine Guarding (1910.212)1,743
10Personal Protective Equipment – Lifesaving Equipment and Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)1,411