Staying compliant with OSHA standards is critical for workplace safety, especially in high-risk industries like construction, transportation, and manufacturing. OSHA’s annual list of top violations highlights recurring safety gaps, providing valuable insights for companies aiming to improve compliance and avoid penalties. Here are the top 10 violations of 2024, along with practical tips to prevent them.
Number of Violations: 1,541
2023 Rank: #10 (103 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Machine guarding violations occur when equipment lacks protective barriers to prevent workers from coming into contact with moving parts. These failures increase the risk of severe injuries such as amputations and crushing incidents.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 1,814
2023 Rank: #9 (413 more violations than in 2023)
What It Is: This violation occurs when workers do not wear proper eye or face protection in environments with flying debris, chemical splashes, or harmful radiation.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 1,873
2023 Rank: #4 (986 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Scaffolding violations include improper assembly, lack of guardrails, and inadequate load-bearing capacity, posing a significant fall risk.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,050
2023 Rank: #8 (62 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Employers are cited under this standard when they fail to adequately train workers on how to identify and mitigate fall hazards.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,248
2023 Rank: #5 (313 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: These violations include improper operation, lack of operator training, and inadequate equipment maintenance.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,443
2023 Rank: #6 (111 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) violations happen when hazardous energy sources are not properly controlled during equipment maintenance.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,859
2023 Rank: #7 (378 more violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Violations often result from inadequate respiratory hazard assessments, improper fit-testing, and lack of training.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,978
2023 Rank: #3 (405 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Ladder violations occur when workers use damaged ladders, exceed load capacities, or fail to follow safe usage practices.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 2,888
2023 Rank: #2 (325 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Hazard communication violations stem from failing to inform and train employees about the chemicals they work with.
How to Avoid It:
Number of Violations: 6,307
2023 Rank: #1 (964 fewer violations than in 2023)
What It Is: Fall protection violations, the perennial top offender, include lack of guardrails, harnesses, or fall prevention systems.
How to Avoid It:
Understanding and addressing the top OSHA violations can significantly improve workplace safety and reduce costly penalties. Sentry Road offers a robust platform for training and compliance that helps organizations maintain high safety standards while preparing for audits.
Our robust course catalog covers each and every one of these Top 10 OSHA Violation areas. Learn how Sentry Road can support your OSHA compliance needs. Visit Sentry Road Today!