Scaffolding violations drop on annual OSHA list

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled its top 10 safety violations for fiscal 2024. 

(Photo: Adobe – Kings Access)

While the list is made up of the same violation categories as last year’s, two notable shifts occured: scaffolding violations fell from 4th place in 2023 to 8th this year, while Respiratory Protection climbed three spots to 3rd from 7th. 

Revealed on Sept. 27 at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo in September, OSHA’s top 10 violations list once again sees Fall Protection in the number one spot, for the 14th consecutive year. 

Fall Protection - General Requirements saw a total of 6,307 violations. Hazard Communication (2,888 violations) came next, followed by Ladders (2,573 violations), Respiratory Protection (2,859 violations) and Lockout/Tagout (2,443 violations) as the top five. (Full top 10 list below.)

“While incredible advancements are made in safety each year, we continue to see many of the same types of violations appear on OSHA’s Top 10 list,” said Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “As a safety community, it’s critical we come together to acknowledge these persistent trends and identify solutions to better protect our workforces.”

Staying safe while working at height

The good news on this year’s list is that Fall Protection violations were down -13.25% from last year’s 7,270. The bad news is that aside from 2023’s record-breaking total, this year’s 6,307 Fall Protection violations were the highest the agency has reported since 2018.

The decrease year-over-year comes following OSHA’s announcement in May 2023 of its new National Emphasis Program (NEP) to prevent falls across all industries.

Falls from height are one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” safety hazards, alongside caught-in or -between, electrocution and struck-by hazards. The new Emphasis Program’s main focus is to reduce fall-related injuries and fatalities for anyone working at heights. OSHA’s enforcement policy under the NEP allows OSHA compliance safety and health officers to open inspections whenever personnel are observed working at heights­ during their normal workday, travel or during other OSHA inspections.

Scott Ketcham, director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, who presented the list during NSC’s Safety Congress & Expo, said, “OSHA takes falls very seriously. We’re trying to curb this hazard and make inroads to help people understand the standard and requirements.

“Too many lives are lost each year from workers who fall to their death.”

Top 10 OSHA safety violations

OSHA’s 2024 top 10 list: 

• Fall Protection - General Requirements (1926.501) - 6,307 violations
• Hazard Communication (1910.1200) - 2,888 violations
• Ladders (1926.1053) - 2,573 violations
• Respiratory Protection (1910.134) - 2,859 violations
• Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) - 2,443 violations
• Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) - 2,248 violations
• Fall Protection - Training Requirements (1926.503) - 2,050 violations
• Scaffolding (1926.451) - 1,873 violations
• Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment—Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) - 1,814 violations
• Machine Guarding (1910.212) - 1,541 violations