Top 10 OSHA Violations in 2024Top 10 OSHA Violations in 2024

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration announced the top violations of fiscal year 2024 at the National Safety Council's (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando, FL.

Overall, fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024) saw 26,207 OSHA violations, which is a 10% reduction from last year's total of 28,912. While violations are down across the board, the top 10 categories remain the same from last year's Top 10, indicating similar trends year-over-year. 

Top 10 OSHA Violations

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations

2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888

3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573

4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470

5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443

6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248

7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050

8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873

9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814

10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,541

Many of these violations likely could have been prevented. Following OSHA standards (above in the parentheses) can help food & beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical industries understand the intricacies of occupational safety and why it matters in every facet of a plant. Assuring that Safety and Health procedures are known and updated as needed are critical. Manuals can help.

Related:OSHA Investing Death at Tyson Foods Plant

OSHA requires every business with employees to have a written safety manual, (aka, an Injury, Illness and Prevention Program (IIPP) that covers all aspects of OSHA standards.

As shown above, 2 of the top 10 violations are due to falls, with 2,050 violations occurring due to lack of training requirements. As well, Fall Protection – General Requirements remains the top citation for the 14th year in a row.

If your company needs assistance with training resources, OSHA offers free videos, publications, and more in its library.