The Top 10 OSHA Construction Violations Cited in 2022

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards for Construction

Each year OSHA releases the top ten most frequently cited standards for the previous year. This list helps to reveal trends in safety violations so that safety professionals and employers can mitigate these common hazards and avoid citations.

The Top Ten Lists tend to change very little from year to year. Fall protection is OSHA’s most frequently cited standard for the 10th straight fiscal year.

Below are the Top Ten Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards for Construction in 2022.

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)
  • Title: Duty to have fall protection.
  • 5,260 violations
  1. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
  • Title: Hazard Communication
  • 2,424 violations
  1. Respiratory Protection (1910.134)
  • Title: Respiratory Protection
  • 2,185 violations
  1. Ladders (1926.1053)
  • Title: General Requirements
  • 2,143 violations
  1. Scaffolding (1926.451)
  • Title: Protection from Falls and Falling Objects
  • 2,058 violations
  1. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)
  • Title: The control of hazardous energy
  • 1,977 violations
  1. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)
  • Title: General Requirements
  • 1,749 violations
  1. Fall Protection (1926.503)
  • Title: Training Requirements
  • 1,556 violations
  1. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment (1926.102)
  • Title: Eye and Face Protection
  • 1,401 violations
  1. Machine Guarding (1910.212)
  • Title: General requirements for all machines.
  • 1,370 violations

 

OSHA Penalties

OSHA citations are costly within themselves, but the potential costs of hazardous conditions on the job are far greater than just potential fines. Costs of unsafe workplaces may also include employee injury, property damage, increased insurance premiums, bad publicity, employee turnover, and more.

Below are the maximum penalties that OSHA can issue based on the type of violation.

Type of Violation Penalty
Serious, Other-Than-Serious $15,625 per violation
Posting Requirements $15,625 per violation
Failure to Abate $15,625 per day beyond the abatement date
Willful or Repeated $15,6259 per violation

 

If you need assistance understanding the OSHA standards or you’re interested in learning about the steps we take to ensure workplace safety and compliance, let’s get the conversation started today. Our experts at ESR are ready and available to help. We offer free consultations and will develop complimentary improvement plans.