OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations for 2020 + Safety Resources

Every year, OSHA compiles a list of the 10 most-cited standard violations from the previous fiscal year. The list was recently revealed during a webinar with Safety + Health magazine, where Patrick Kapust, Deputy Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the preliminary data.

The 2020 statistics show some slight changes from the 2019 list. Although the violations did not change, multiple standards moved positions in the list. Ladders climbed to a top-five spot while Respiratory Protection rose to the third rank from fifth. Notable, Fall Protection remained in the number one slot, marking its tenth consecutive year at the top of the list.

Top 10 Most-Cited Violations of Fiscal Year 2020

OSHA publishes this list to remind employers of the importance of safety and alert them of commonly cited standards, allowing them to pinpoint areas needing improvement.

Below are top 10 most frequently cited violations of 2020, along with resources to help you take the necessary steps to find and fix recognized hazards in your workplace.

How to Avoid OSHA Citations

To avoid OSHA fines and prevent worker injuries, illnesses and deaths, you should thoroughly review the standards and ensure you are complying with all employer requirements.

It’s also critical that if you develop and enforce a safety program, you may want to consider implementing a safety committee. EMC has a robust collection of online training courses, Tech Sheets, Safety Briefs that you can use as a starting point.

Learn More

• Getting More from Your Safety Committee
• Safety Management and Culture resources