Using preliminary data, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2020 fiscal year. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance programs. For 2020, the top 10 most cited standards were as follows:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements: 5,424 violations
2. Hazard Communication: 3,199 violations
3. Respiratory Protection: 2,649 violations
4. Scaffolding: 2,538 violations
5. Ladders: 2,129 violations
6. Lockout/Tagout: 2,065 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks: 1,932 violations
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements: 1,621 violations
9. Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection: 1,369 violations
10. Machine Guarding: 1,313 violations

It’s interesting to note that the standards cited in the 2020 fiscal year are the same as those identified in the 2019 fiscal year. However, some standards did change positions. For instance, “Ladders” climbed to the top five and “Respiratory Protection” rose from fifth to third. What’s more, “Fall Protection – General Requirements” remained OSHA’s most frequently cited standard for the tenth consecutive fiscal year. Keep in mind that this data is preliminary and may be subject to change. Provided by Zywave.