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OSHA's Top 10 Most Cited Standards

Standard Top 5 Sections Cited

1- Scaffolding: 1926.451
Total Violations: 9,012
1926.451 (g)(1 ) — Lack of fall protection: 1,492
1926.451 (e)(1 ) — Failure to provide proper access: 1,234
1926.451 (b)(1) — Inadequate platform construction: 1,121
1926.451 (c)(2) — Failure to properly support scaffolding: 539
1926.451 (g)(1)(vii) — Lack of personal fall arrest/guardrail system: 538

2- Hazard Communication: 1910.1200
Total Violations: 6,704
1910.1200 (e)(1) — Failure to develop a written program: 2,286
1910.1200 (h)(1) — Failure to train employees: 1,057
1910.1200 (g)(1) — Failure to have an MSDS for each hazardous chemical: 687
1910.1200 (h) — [per 1926.59] Hazard Communication training for construction: 534
1910.1200 (f)(5)(i) — Failure to properly label each container of hazardous chemicals: 496

3- Fall Protection: 1926.501
Total Violations: 6,378
1926.501 (b)(13) — Lack of fall protection during residential construction: 2,147
1926.501 (b)(1) — Failure to provide fall protection: 1,989
1926.501 (b)(10) — Fall protection on low-slope roofs: 614
1926.501 (b)(11) — Fall protection on steep roofs: 424
1926.501 (b)(4)(i) — Failure to guard floor holes: 240

4- Respiratory Protection: 1910.134
Total Violations: 4,332
1910.134 (c)(1) — Lack of a written program: 739
1910.134 (e)(1) — Failure to perform medical evaluation: 686
1910.134 (f)(2) — Initial/annual fit testing: 328
1910.134 (c)(2)(i) — Failure to provide Appendix D when respirator use is voluntary: 323
1910.134 (f)(1) — Failure to ensure employees using a tight-fitting facepeice respirator pass a qualitative or quantitative fit test: 263

5- Lockout/Tagout: 1910.147
Total Violations: 3,659
1910.147 (c)(4)(i) — Failure to develop equipment-specific lockout procedures: 658
1910.147 (c)(1) — Lack of a written program: 624
1910.147 (c)(6) — Failure to conduct periodic (annual) inspections of energy control program: 500
1910.147 (c)(7)(i) — Failure to train employees: 480
1910.147 (c)(4)(ii) — Inadequate equipment-specific procedures: 233

6- Powered Industrial Trucks: 1910.178
Total Violations: 3,080
1910.178 (l)(1)(i) — Failure to ensure operator competency: 562
1910.178 (p)(1) — Failure to remove unsafe trucks from operation: 418
1910.178 (l)(6) — Lack of operator certification: 375
1910.178 (l)(4) — Failure to provide refresher training and evaluation: 256
1910.178 (q)(7) — Failure to inspect trucks: 223

7- Electrical – Wiring: 1910.305
Total Violations: 2,953
1910.305 (b)(1) — Failure to protect conductors entering boxes, cabinets, or fittings: 687
1910.305 (b)(2) — Lack of covers for pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings: 534
1910.305 (g)(2)(iii) — Strain relief for flexible cords: 422
1910.305 (g)(1)(iii) — Using flexible cords in a prohibited situation: 332
1910.305 (g)(1)(iii)(A) — Using flexible cords in lieu of permanent wiring: 182

8- Machine Guarding – General Requirements: 1910.212
Total Violations: 2,749
1910.212 (a)(1) — Failure to guard machinery: 1,537
1910.212 (a)(3)(ii) — Failure to guard point-of-operation: 787
1910.212 (b) — Failure to anchor fixed machinery: 174
1910.212 (a)(5) — Failure to guard exposed fan blades: 148
1910.212 (a)(2) — Failure to permanently affix guards: 76

9 Ladders: 1926.1053
Total Violations: 2,329
1926.1053 (b)(1) — Failure to extend ladder at least 3 feet above upper landing surface: 1,175
1926.1053 (b)(4) — Using ladders for the purpose other than which they were designed: 280
1926.1053 (b)(13) — Using the top or top step of a stepladder as a step: 215
1926.1053 (b)(16) — Failure to withdraw damaged portable ladders from service: 129
1926.1053 (b)(6) — Failure to use ladders on stable surface: 88

10 Electrical Systems:1910.303
Total Violations: 2,178
1910.303 (b)(2) — Failure to use electrical equipment as listed for use: 482
1910.303 (g)(2)(i) — Failure to guard energized electrical conductors = 50 volts: 407
1910.303 (f) — Failure to identify disconnecting means and circuits: 357
1910.303 (g)(1)(ii) — Failure to keep work spaces clear: 247
1910.303 (b)(1) — Use of electrical equipment containing recognized hazards: 216

Top 10 Willful Violations for 2006:
Standard Total Violations
(1) 1926.652 – Protective Systems: Excavations 86
(2) 1926.62 – Lead in Construction 51
(3) 1926.501 – Fall Protection 48
(4) 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection 33
(5) 1926.651 – Excavations: Specific Requirements 31
(6) 1926.451 – Scaffolding 26
(7) 1910.212 – Machine Guarding 25
(8) 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout 24
(9) 1910.95 – Occupational Noise Exposure 19
(10) 1910.1025 – Lead 18
(10) 1910.119 – Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals 18

Top 10 Serious Violations for 2006:
< Standard Total Violations
(1) 1926.451 – Scaffolding 8,135
(2) 1926.501 – Fall Protection 5,610
(3) 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication 3,647
(4) 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout 3,379
(5) 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection 2,623
(6) 1910.212 – Machine Guarding 2,477
(7) 1910.305 – Electrical Wiring 2,256
(7) 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection 2,382
(8) 1910.178 – Powered Industrial Trucks 2,209
(9) 1926.1053 – Ladders 1,997
(10) 1910.219 – Mechanical Power Transmission Apparatus 1,626

Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
02/15/2007
www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/frequent_standards.html

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