OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations for 2020 Revealed

March 1, 2021 Roberta Garthwait

The preliminary list of OSHA’s most frequently cited standards for fiscal year 2020 was unveiled by Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, during a Friday, Feb. 26, Safety+Health magazine webinar. Mostly unchanged from previous years, 2020 held few surprises, with fall protection again taking the top spot.

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements – 1926.501 (5,424 violations)
2. Hazard Communication –1910.1200 (3,199 violations)
3. Respiratory Protection – 1910.134 (2,649 violations)
4. Scaffolding – 1926.451 (2,538 violations)
5. Ladders – 1926.1053 (2,129 violations)
6. Lockout/Tagout – 1910.147 (2,065 violations)
7. Powered Industrial Trucks – 1910.178 (1,932 violations)
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements – 1926.503 (1,621 violations)
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection – 1926.102 (1,369 violations)
10. Machine Guarding – 1910.212 (1,313 violations)