US OSHA Violations: Top 10 of 2026

This blog was originally posted on 28th October, 2026. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY Corine Laurijsen, Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist, ADHERENT

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Table of Contents

• OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Workplace Safety Violations for 2026: What Changed & How Employers Can Stay Ahead
• The Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2026
• Proactive Steps to Build a Compliant Workplace in 2026
• Conclusion: Make Workplace Safety a Priority 

OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Workplace Safety Violations for 2026: What Changed & How Employers Can Stay Ahead

On September 15, 2026, during the National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed its preliminary 2026 list of the most frequently cited workplace safety standards. The list is based on OSHA inspections conducted during fiscal year 2026 and helps employers identify persistent workplace hazards, prioritize improvements, and strengthen safety programs.

Despite technological advances and increased workplace automation, recurring violations, particularly around fall protection, hazard communication, and hazardous energy control, continue to top the chart. 

Five recurring violations are directly tied to construction: Fall Protection – General Requirements; Scaffolding; Ladders; Fall Protection – Training; and Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment – Eye & Face Protection. The other ranked violations are related to general industry.

These recurring violations highlight where employers, safety directors, and HR Managers need to focus their safety programs, employee training, equipment maintenance, and compliance efforts. Understanding the most frequently cited OSHA standards can help prevent injuries, avoid costly penalties, and keep workers safe.

Here is a breakdown of the Top 10 OSHA Violations for Fiscal Year 2026, along with actionable steps to keep your team safe and audit-ready.

The Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2026

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (29 CFR 1926.501) 

• Rank Status: #1 for the 16th consecutive year
• Violations: Unprotected structural edges, open floor holes, unmanaged roof work, and missing guardrails or personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).
• Prevention: Ensure guardrail systems, safety nets, or personal fall arrest equipment are installed at heights of 6 feet or higher in construction. Conduct daily anchor point and harness inspections.

2. Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)

• Violations: Missing, outdated, or inaccessible Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), unlabeled container transfers, and lack of or inadequate employee training regarding chemical hazards.
• Prevention: Maintain a comprehensive inventory of chemicals, transition to digital SDS access platforms for frontline workers, and ensure all secondary containers carry appropriate GHS-compliant labels.

3. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) – Hazardous Energy Control (29 CFR 1910.147)

• Violations: Failure to properly isolate electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, or hydraulic power during routine equipment maintenance and servicing, missing or inadequate lockout devices, and insufficient training.
• Prevention: Develop machine-specific energy control procedures, conduct annual periodic LOTO audits, and supply authorized employees with dedicated padlocks and lockout devices. Train employees according to their responsibilities and periodically inspect energy control procedures as required by OSHA.

4. Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451)

• Violations: Unstable base plates, incomplete planking, missing guardrails, and failing to have a “competent person” inspect scaffolding before work shifts.
• Prevention: Ensure platforms are fully planked, locked, and built on solid sills. Ensure a trained competent person signs off on scaffold safety daily.

5. Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053)

• Violations: Using defective or undersized ladders, using stepladders in a closed position, and failing to extend extension ladders 3 feet past the landing surface.
• Prevention: Inspect ladders before every shift, tag and remove damaged equipment immediately, and train employees on the 3-point contact rule.

6. Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134)

• Violations: Lack of a written respiratory protection program, missing medical evaluations, improper fit testing, and facial hair interference with respirator seals.
• Prevention: Establish a formal written program. Mandate annual fit testing and medical evaluations for all tight-fitting respirator users. Ensure adequate training, maintenance, or storage.

7. Powered Industrial Trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)

• Violations: Uncertified forklift operation, elevated driving speeds, reckless maneuvering, missing seatbelts, and inadequate daily vehicle checks.
• Prevention: Re-evaluate and re-certify forklift operators every three years (or after any incident) and enforce strict pre-shift checklist completion. Conduct refresher training when required by changes in conditions, unsafe operation, or other specified triggers. Establish pedestrian routes, inspect trucks, enforce safe load handling, and keep defective equipment out of service.

8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)

• Violations: Inadequate training on how to spot fall hazards or properly inspect and wear harnesses and lanyards.
• Prevention: Deliver documented, hands-on training by a qualified instructor before employees enter elevated work zones. Conduct retraining whenever working conditions or equipment change.

9. Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment – Eye & Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102)

• Violations: Failure to provide and enforce eye protection adequate against flying particles, chemical splashes, or hazardous light rays during grinding, cutting, or spraying tasks.
• Prevention: Perform job hazard assessments (JHAs) for all tasks and supply specialized ANSI-approved safety glasses, over-the-glasses (OTG) frames, or face shields.

10. Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212)

• Violations: Removing or bypassing protective barriers near point-of-operation areas, rotating shafts, and power transmission belts.
• Prevention: Conduct weekly machine audits to verify guards are permanently affixed or interlocked and cannot be easily tampered with by operators.

Proactive Steps to Build a Compliant Workplace in 2026

Knowing the Top 10 is only the first step. Employers should turn the findings into a practical safety improvement plan that addresses the hazards actually present in their workplaces.

• Review Requirements for Your Industry: The national Top 10 is a useful starting point, but the most relevant compliance risks depend on your industry, work activities, and exposure profile. Employers should also review applicable state-plan requirements and industry-specific standards.
• Shift from Reactive to Preventive Audits: Don’t wait for an OSHA inspector or workplace injury to highlight gaps. Conduct monthly internal self-inspections targeting these 10 standards. 
• Review Written Safety Programs: Confirm that your fall protection, HazCom, LOTO, respiratory protection, and other applicable programs reflect current equipment, operations, and OSHA requirements. A safety and health program self-evaluation tool for general industry is available here.
• Focus on Hands-On, Documented Training: Having a written policy isn’t enough. Check that training is appropriate for employees’ assigned duties, current workplace hazards, and the applicable standards, and keep required documented proof that workers demonstrate practical knowledge of their safety gear and machinery.
• Inspect Equipment and Protective Systems: Review ladders, scaffolds, forklifts, machine guards, respirators, and personal protective equipment. Remove defective equipment from service and correct unsafe conditions promptly.
• Empower Frontline Reporting: Encourage employees to report close calls, damaged ladders, and missing guards without fear of retaliation. Early reporting catches minor hazards before they become major citations or injuries.

Conclusion: Make Workplace Safety a Priority 

The OSHA Top 10 violations of 2026 highlight that many workplace injuries can be prevented when employers identify hazards and consistently apply effective safety controls. 

A serious workplace incident can affect employees and their families, interrupt production, increase workers’ compensation costs, and create significant legal and operational consequences.

Proactive hazard identification, meaningful training, properly maintained equipment, and consistent management oversight can help reduce these risks.

Start by identifying the hazards that present the greatest risks in your workplace. Then review your safety procedures, verify employee competency, inspect equipment, and follow through on corrective actions.

The goal is not simply to avoid an OSHA citation. It is to ensure every employee can perform their job and return home safely.

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