The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its preliminary Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Workplace Safety Standards for Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), giving employers a current look at the hazards OSHA inspectors continue to identify across workplaces.
The preliminary data is based on OSHA inspections conducted during FY2026 and is intended to help employers identify persistent hazards, prioritize improvements, and strengthen their safety programs.
There is good news in the latest data: citations decreased in every one of the Top 10 categories compared with the previous year. However, the rankings still show that several familiar hazards persist across construction, manufacturing, and general industry.
| Rank | Standard | CFR Citation | FY2026 Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall Protection – General Requirements | 29 CFR 1926.501 | 4,041 |
| 2 | Hazard Communication | 29 CFR 1910.1200 | 1,961 |
| 3 | Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) | 29 CFR 1910.147 | 1,863 |
| 4 | Scaffolding | 29 CFR 1926.451 | 1,725 |
| 5 | Ladders | 29 CFR 1926.1053 | 1,659 |
| 6 | Respiratory Protection | 29 CFR 1910.134 | 1,608 |
| 7 | Powered Industrial Trucks | 29 CFR 1910.178 | 1,379 |
| 8 | Fall Protection – Training Requirements | 29 CFR 1926.503 | 1,273 |
| 9 | Eye and Face Protection | 29 CFR 1926.102 | 1,120 |
| 10 | Machine Guarding | 29 CFR 1910.212 | 1,072 |
Source: Preliminary OSHA FY2026 data released September 15, 2026.
What Changed from the Previous Data?
The Top 10 standards themselves remain familiar, but their order has changed.
The biggest movement was in Lockout/Tagout and Scaffolding. Lockout/Tagout moved from fifth in the 2024 data to third in FY2026, while Scaffolding moved from eighth to fourth. Ladders dropped from third to fifth, and Respiratory Protection moved from fourth to sixth.
Fall Protection continues to dominate the list, however. It has now been the most frequently cited OSHA standard for 16 consecutive years.
Another notable change is the overall number of citations. There were 23,537 citations across the 10 categories in FY2025. The FY2026 preliminary figures total 17,701 citations across the same categories—a decrease of approximately 25%.
Fewer citations do not necessarily mean these hazards have disappeared. The fact that the same standards continue to occupy the Top 10 shows employers still need consistent attention in these areas.
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements: 4,041 Citations
29 CFR 1926.501
Fall Protection remains OSHA’s #1 most frequently cited standard for the 16th consecutive year.
The FY2026 data shows 4,041 citations under 1926.501. While that is a significant decrease from the 5,914 citations reported in the 2024 data, fall protection remains the most frequently cited standard by a substantial margin.
For construction employers, fall protection should remain a primary focus. Employers should regularly evaluate:
- Leading-edge and unprotected-side hazards
- Openings and holes
- Roof work
- Scaffolds and elevated work platforms
- Personal fall arrest systems
- Guardrail systems
- Worker training
- Jobsite inspections
Fall protection equipment alone does not create a complete fall protection program. Employers must identify hazards, select appropriate systems, ensure workers use them properly, and train workers to recognize and address fall hazards.
2. Hazard Communication: 1,961 Citations
29 CFR 1910.1200
Hazard Communication remains #2 on OSHA’s list.
Common issues include missing labels, outdated or unavailable Safety Data Sheets, inadequate employee training, and incomplete written Hazard Communication programs.
Because chemicals are frequently added, replaced, or transferred into secondary containers, employers should monitor Hazard Communication program implementation regularly, rather than treat labeling as a one-time compliance exercise.
Employers should verify that:
- Secondary containers are properly labeled.
- Current SDSs are readily accessible.
- Employees understand the hazards associated with workplace chemicals.
- Required training has been completed.
- The written Hazard Communication program reflects current workplace conditions.
3. Lockout/Tagout: 1,863 Citations
29 CFR 1910.147
One of the biggest changes in the FY2026 rankings is Lockout/Tagout moving from #5 to #3.
The Control of Hazardous Energy standard addresses procedures to prevent unexpected startup of machinery or release of stored energy while employees perform servicing or maintenance.
The FY2026 data resulted in 1,863 citations.
Lockout/Tagout involves more than electrical energy. Depending on the equipment and operation, hazardous energy can include:
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Hydraulic
- Pneumatic
- Chemical
- Thermal
- Gravitational
- Other stored or residual energy
Employers should regularly review machine-specific energy control procedures, authorized employee training, and required periodic inspections.
4. Scaffolding: 1,725 Citations
29 CFR 1926.451
Scaffolding made one of the largest upward moves in the FY2026 rankings, moving from #8 to #4.
OSHA recorded 1,725 citations in this category.
Scaffolding hazards can involve improper construction, inadequate access, missing components, improper platforms, and inadequate fall protection.
Employers should ensure scaffolds are erected and used according to applicable requirements and inspected by a competent person as required.
The significant movement of scaffolding higher on the Top 10 list reminds construction employers not to let familiar equipment become a routine hazard.
5. Ladders: 1,659 Citations
29 CFR 1926.1053
Ladders remain a significant construction safety issue, although they moved from #3 to #5 in the latest rankings.
OSHA recorded 1,659 citations in FY2026.
Ladder safety requires attention to:
- Proper selection
- Stable setup
- Correct positioning
- Three points of contact
- Proper climbing and working practices
- Pre-use inspections
- Removing damaged ladders from service
- Employee training
Because ladders are so common on construction sites, they can easily become an overlooked hazard.
6. Respiratory Protection: 1,608 Citations
29 CFR 1910.134
Respiratory Protection moved from #4 to #6, with 1,608 citations reported for FY2026.
When respirator use is required, employers must have an appropriate respiratory protection program that addresses issues such as:
- Hazard assessment
- Respirator selection
- Medical evaluations
- Fit testing
- Training
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Program evaluation
Providing respirators alone does not satisfy the requirements of an effective respiratory protection program.
7. Powered Industrial Trucks: 1,379 Citations
29 CFR 1910.178
Powered Industrial Trucks ranked seventh in FY2026, down from sixth in the previous data.
OSHA recorded 1,379 citations.
Common concerns include operator training, required inspections, safe operating practices, and workplace conditions.
Employers should also consider the interaction between powered industrial trucks and pedestrians. Traffic patterns, visibility, loading areas, speed, and facility layout can all affect the risk of serious incidents.
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements: 1,273 Citations
29 CFR 1926.503
Fall Protection Training remains in the Top 10 but moved from #7 to #8.
OSHA recorded 1,273 citations related to fall protection training requirements in FY2026.
The appearance of both Fall Protection – General Requirements and Fall Protection – Training Requirements in the Top 10 reinforces an important point: having fall protection equipment and systems in place is only part of the solution.
Workers must also understand:
- The fall hazards present at their job sites
- How to recognize those hazards
- What fall protection systems are required
- How to properly use the systems
- The limitations of the equipment
- What to do when conditions change
9. Eye and Face Protection: 1,120 Citations
29 CFR 1926.102
Eye and Face Protection remains #9 on the list, with 1,120 citations in FY2026.
Employers should evaluate workplace exposures and provide appropriately selected protection when employees may be exposed to hazards that can cause eye or facial injury.
Depending on the work being performed, hazards can include flying particles, chemicals, dust, radiation, and other physical or environmental hazards.
Training is also important. Employees need to understand not only that eye protection is required, but what type of protection is appropriate for the hazard they face.
10. Machine Guarding: 1,072 Citations
29 CFR 1910.212
Machine Guarding remains #10, with 1,072 citations in FY2026.
Machine guarding is particularly relevant to manufacturing environments, but construction employers also encounter guarding hazards involving equipment such as saws, grinders, and other machinery.
Guards should protect employees from hazards associated with points of operation, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks, and other moving components.
Employers should not assume that equipment is adequately guarded simply because it arrived that way. Employers should evaluate equipment for the hazards created by its operation and use.
What the FY2026 Top 10 Means for Employers
The latest OSHA data provides an important takeaway: the hazards haven’t changed nearly as much as their ranking has.
Fall protection remains OSHA’s most frequently cited standard. Hazard Communication remains second. And the other standards continue to involve hazards that can result in serious injuries or fatalities when they are not properly controlled.
At the same time, the movement of Lockout/Tagout and Scaffolding higher on the list deserves attention.
For employers planning their safety priorities, the FY2026 Top 10 provides a useful starting point for asking:
Are our written safety programs current?
Written programs should reflect actual workplace conditions, equipment, and processes—not simply satisfy a documentation requirement.
Are employees trained for the hazards they actually encounter?
Training should match the work employees perform and be reinforced through regular communication, observation, and supervision.
Are supervisors identifying hazards before work begins?
Pre-task planning and regular jobsite or facility inspections can identify problems before they result in an incident or OSHA citation.
Are our safety procedures actually being followed?
A written procedure is only effective when employees understand it and follow it consistently.
When was the last time we conducted a comprehensive safety assessment?
An independent review can help identify gaps that may be difficult to see from inside the organization.
The Top 10 Is a Starting Point—Not the Entire Safety Program
OSHA’s Top 10 list is useful because it highlights standards that continue to generate many citations. But you should not treat the list as a complete assessment of workplace risk.
Your organization’s hazards depend on your industry, equipment, processes, workforce, and work environment.
The goal should not simply be to avoid becoming part of OSHA’s Top 10 statistics.
The goal is to identify and control hazards before they result in an injury, illness, fatality, or citation.
The FY2026 data gives employers a timely opportunity to review their safety programs, reinforce training, and address gaps before OSHA or an incident identifies them first.
If your organization needs help evaluating its OSHA compliance, updating safety programs, or providing employee training, Safety Consultants USA can help identify gaps and develop practical solutions tailored to your workplace.
Contact Safety Consultants USA to learn how we can help strengthen your safety program.
