INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2026, highlighting hazards that continue to put workers at risk across industries.

Prent Cline, acting deputy director of OSHA's Directorate of Enforcement Programs, highlights the top hazards that continue to put workers at risk.

The annual Top 10 list was unveiled during the 2026 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals. The preliminary data are based on OSHA inspections conducted during fiscal year 2026 and help employers identify persistent workplace hazards, prioritize improvements and strengthen safety programs.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards are:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 4,041 violations
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
Although each of the Top 10 categories received fewer citations than the previous year, the rankings continue to highlight persistent workplace risks that require attention.

“Year after year, the OSHA Top 10 reminds us how pervasive preventable workplace hazards remain,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “Every citation represents an opportunity to identify gaps and strengthen safety practices before a worker is injured. Employers should use these findings to evaluate their workplaces, install critical safeguards, and implement proven solutions that help protect workers and save lives.”

Employers can explore tools, training and resources to help prevent serious workplace incidents and fatalities at nsc.org.