Top 10 OSHA Violations: 2022

9/21/22
Grainger Editorial Staff

OSHA has released data for the top 10 most-cited standards in fiscal year 2022. The data includes violations cited between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022.

For the 12th year running, Fall Protection – General Requirements was the most frequently cited standard with more than double the citations of the second most-cited standard. Despite this remarkable consistency, or perhaps because of it, safety practices around working at elevated heights have continued to evolve.

The 10 most-cited standards in 2022 remained the same as in 2021, though the order shifted somewhat. Hazard Communication jumped from fifth to second, with a 25% increase in cited violations. The biggest drop in cited violations occurred in Scaffolding, with a 19% decrease. Respiratory Protection, which surged early in the pandemic, fell from second to third in 2022, but was still more prominent than it had been before COVID-19.

The chart below gives financiall year 2022 data alongside the data from FY 2021. See recent OSHA Top 10 results here: 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

OSHA Standard	FY 2022 Data	Previous Year's Data
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)	5,980 Violations	No. 1 with 5,271 Violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)	2,682 Violations	No. 5 with 1,939 Violations
3. Respiratory Protection (1910.134)	2,471 Violations	No. 2 with 2,521 Violations
4. Ladders (1926.1053)	2,430 Violations	No. 3 with 2,018 Violations
5. Scaffolding (1926.451)	2,285 Violations	No. 4 with 2,538 Violations
6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147)	2,175 Violations	No. 6 with 1,670 Violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)	1,922 Violations	No. 9 with 1,404 Violations
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503)	1,778 Violations	No. 7 with 1,660 Violations
9. Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)	1,582 Violations	No. 8 with 1,451 Violations
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212)	1,488 Violations	No. 10 with 1,105 Violations

OSHA’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.