OSHA’s Top 10 most frequently cited serious violations

OSHA’s citation statistics for fiscal year (FY) 2021 have been released and show where inspectors most often found serious violations in general industry. Employers may use the list as a focal point for their own safety and health programs.

Top 10 most frequently cited serious violations in general industry (FY 2021)

1. Machine guarding (1910.212(a)(1)) – not having adequate machine guarding

2. Respiratory protection (1910.134(e)(1)) – not providing medical evaluations for respiratory protection

3. Hazard communication (1910.1200(e)(1)) – missing or inadequate written program

4. Respiratory protection (1910.134(f)(2)) – not ensuring employees are fit tested

5. Hazard communication (1910.1200(h)(1)) – inadequate or failure to provide employee information and training

6. Respiratory protection (1910.134(c)(1)) – missing or inadequate written program

7. Hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout) (1910.147(c)(4)(1)) – missing or inadequate procedures in place

8. Machine guarding (1910.212(a)(3)(ii)) – not having a guard at point of operations

9. Powered industrial trucks (1910.178(l)(1)(i)) – failure to provide competency training

10. Hazard communication (1910.1200(g)(8)) –safety data sheets (SDSs) not readily accessible

OSHA defines a serious violation as one in which “there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes which have been adopted or are in use, in such place of employment unless the employer did not, and could not with the exercise of reasonable diligence, know of the presence of the violation.”

As of January 15, 2022, serious violations carry a penalty amount of $14,502.