OSHA announced its preliminary list of the top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2022. Since OSHA’s fiscal year doesn’t end until Sept. 30—and this list was published prior to this date—the final results won’t be announced until the beginning of 2023. However, this preliminary list indicates the most violated safety standards for fiscal year 2022.

Preliminary data shows that fall protection (general requirements) is at the top of the list of violations for the 12^th year in a row, followed by hazard communication and respiratory protection. While the top 10 standard violations typically stay the same each year, the rankings tend to move around.

The top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2022 are as follows:

1. Fall protection—General requirements (5,260 violations)
2. Hazard communication (2,424 violations)
3. Respiratory protection (2,185 violations)
4. Ladders (2,143 violations)
5. Scaffolding (2,058 violations)
6. Lockout/tagout (1,977 violations)
   
7. Powered industrial trucks (1,749 violations)
8. Fall protection—Training requirements (1,556 violations)
9. Personal protective and lifesaving equipment (1,401 violations)
10. Machine guarding (1,370 violations)

Last year’s top 10 included eye and face protection rather than personal protective and lifesaving equipment.

“OSHA’s annual [top] 10 list helps define trends so safety professionals can find the appropriate solutions,” said Lorraine Martin, National Safety Council president and CEO. “Despite advancements in workplace safety, we continue to see the same types of violations each year. It’s more important than ever employers seek education and resources to keep their workers safe.”

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This article is intended for informational purposes only. © 2022 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.