Fall protection remains top of OSHA list for most frequently cited workplace safety standards

NEW ORLEANS — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced its most frequently cited workplace safety standards for 2023 and fall protection — general requirements remains at the top of the list.

The preliminary data for OSHA’s Top 10 was presented by Eric Harbin, OSHA Region 6 administrator, during the 2023 NSC Safety Congress and Expo, the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals.

For the 13^th year in a row, fall protection – general requirements remains at the top of the list, followed by hazard communication and ladders.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for the fiscal year 2023 which ended Sept. 30, are:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements: 7,271 violations
2. Hazard Communication: 3,213
3. Ladders: 2,978
4. Scaffolding: 2,859
5. Powered Industrial Trucks: 2,561
6. Lockout/Tagout: 2,554
7. Respiratory Protection: 2,481
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements: 2,112
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection: 2,074
10. Machine Guarding: 1,644

“Although incredible advancements are made in safety each year, we continue to see many of the same types of violations appear on OSHA’s Top 10 list,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO, in a statement. “As a safety community, we must come together to acknowledge these persistent trends and identify solutions to better protect workers.”