OSHA announced its preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2021 at the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando, Florida. Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the list virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 12. 

Fall Protection (1926.501) remains at the top of the list for the 11th year in a row, followed by Respiratory Protection (1910.134) and Ladders (1926.1053). Hazard Communication, which spent the last several years at number two, moved to the fifth spot on this year’s list.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for FY 2021 are:

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295 violations
  2. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527
  3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026
  4. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948
  5. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947
  6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,666
  8. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,452
  9. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,420
  10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,113