Federal OSHA has published preliminary figures for the most frequently cited OSHA standards during the period October 2008 through September 2009. Although more figures come in every day, it appears that, with about 80% to 90% of the citations being reported, the most violations are for the same standards cited in previous years.

Every year, OSHA inspectors perform most inspections to check on compliance with standards that carry the greatest risk of death or serious injury. As a result the two standards most frequently cited this year are for construction—general requirements for scaffolds and regulations concerning fall protection. Other construction standards that appear year after year include use of ladders, aerial lifts, head protection, and excavation.

The top two general industry standards receiving citations were the hazard communication standard and the regulations for respiratory protection. Compliance with these standards is vital to inform workers about hazardous chemicals in their workplaces and about the proper use of respirators to protect themselves when necessary. Also high on the list are lockout/tagout, powered industrial truck use, electrical standards, and regulations covering industrial machinery.

Once again, this year's figures also show over 1,000 violations of the General Duty Clause that requires employers to provide employees with “a place of employment ¼ free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or physical harm to ¼ employees.” The General Duty Clause is used by inspectors when there is no specific standard that applies to a hazard.

Most Frequently Cited Standards--General Industry

October 1, 2008-September 30, 2009

Most Frequently Cited Standards—Construction

October 1, 2008-September 30, 2009

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