Fall protection for construction continues to lead OSHA’s Top 10 list
September 21, 2026
Fall protection for construction has topped OSHA’s list of most frequently cited standards for the sixteenth year in a row. On September 15, Prent Cline, acting deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, made the announcement during the National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo.
Preliminary inspection data for fiscal year (FY) 2026 show that OSHA recorded 4,041 fall protection (construction) violations, down from 5,914 in FY 2025. The standards rounding out the list remain unchanged, though some rankings have shifted.
| Rank | Standard | Violations |
| 1 | Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501) | 4,041 |
| 2 | Hazard Communication (1926.1200) | 1,961 |
| 3 | Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) | 1,863 |
| 4 | Scaffolding (1926.451) | 1,725 |
| 5 | Ladders (1926.1053) | 1,659 |
| 6 | Respiratory Protection (1910.134) | 1,608 |
| 7 | Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) | 1,379 |
| 8 | Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503) | 1,273 |
| 9 | Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) | 1,120 |
| 10 | Machine Guarding (1910.212) | 1,072 |
Publish Date
September 21, 2026
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TypeIndustry News
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Related TopicsEnforcement and Audits - OSHA
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