Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2022: Citation Numbers Increase

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The preliminary Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2022 (based on preliminary data from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 6, 2022) were announced at the National Safety Council’s 2022 Safety Congress & Expo.

The 21,123 total citations among the Top 10 increased 5% from 2021, marking the first increase in year-over-year citations in several years. Hazard Communication showed the biggest increase (2,424 in 2022 vs. 1,947 in 2021). Even with that increase, HazCom citations are still well below the 2020 count of 3,199.

Although the 10 most-common citations represent the same standards as previous years, there was more movement in the list than in recent years. Fall Protection always tops the list, but HazCom moved up three positions from last year. Citations increased for six standards, compared to 2021 counts.

The Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2022

  1. Fall Protection, general requirements (1926.501) – 5,260 violations (-0.7% vs. 2021)
  2. Hazard Communication Standard, general requirements (1910.1200) – 2,424 violations (+24.5% vs. 2021)
  3. Respiratory Protection, general industry (1910.134) – 2,185 violations (-13.5% vs. 2021)
  4. Ladders, construction (1926.1053) – 2,143 violations (+5.8% vs. 2021)
  5. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (1926.451) – 2,058 violations (+5.6% vs. 2021)
  6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), general requirements (1910.147) – 1,977 violations (+16.4% vs. 2021)
  7. Powered Industrial Trucks, general requirements (1910.178) – 1,749 violations (+23.2% vs. 2021)
  8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503) – 1,556 violations (-6.6% vs. 2021)
  9. Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) – 1,401 violations (-3.5% vs. 2021)
  10. Machinery and Machine Guard, general requirements (1910.212) – 1,370 violations (+23.1% vs. 2021)

This list shows what OSHA has been watching, which makes it a good place to start when reviewing safety needs of your business or making a safety plan. Hazard Communication is clearly a new area of focus for OSHA inspectors.

For comparison, the 2021 Top 10 were:

  1. Fall Protection, general requirements (29 CFR 1926.501): 5,295 violations
  2. Respiratory Protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134): 2,527 violations
  3. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053): 2,026
  4. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451): 1,948 violations
  5. Hazard Communication Standard, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.1200): 1,947 violations
  6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), general requirements (29 CFR 1910.147): 1,698 violations
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503): 1,666 violations
  8. Eye and Face Protection (29 CFR 1926.102): 1,452 violations
  9. Powered Industrial Trucks, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.178): 1,420 violations
  10. Machinery and Machine Guard, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212): 1,113 violations

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