To kickstart the development or update of your 2025 Safety Program, begin by reviewing OSHA’s “Top 10” most frequently cited safety violations. The 2024 list is provided below. Discuss these issues with your team and assess how they might affect your operations. Non-compliance with OSHA regulations can result in substantial fines (examples listed below), so it’s crucial to audit your Safety Program components monthly to ensure continuous adherence to all safety standards.
Top 10 Safety Violations and the Main Hazards Cited for Each:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements
Inadequate fall protection for workers at height.
2. Hazard Communication
Failure to properly communicate hazardous materials and safety data sheets.
3. Ladders
Improper use of maintenance of ladders.
4. Respiratory Protection
Lack of proper respiratory protection programs and equipment.
5. Lockout/Tagout
Inadequate procedures for controlling hazardous energy during maintenance.
6. Forklifts and Powered Industrial Trucks
Safety violations related to the operation of forklifts and other powered industrial vehicles.
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements
Inadequate training for fall protection for workers at heights.
8. Scaffolding
Violations related to the safety and construction of scaffolding.
9. Personal Protection & Life-Saving Equipment: Eye/Face Protection
Failure to provide or enforce the use of appropriate PPE.
10. Machine Guarding
Lack of adequate guards on machinery to protect workers from moving parts.
Failure to comply with these and other workplace safety practices can result in hefty penalties, especially if violations are repeated or willful. Here are two examples from 2024:
- A dollar retailer settled with OSHA for $12 million to resolve safety violations. The settlement included corporatewide changes to improve employee safety, such as addressing blocked emergency exits, electrical panels, and fire extinguishers. This retailer had faced repeated safety violations in recent years, including being placed on OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program
- A footwear retailer is facing almost $400,000 in fines at one of their warehouses for repeat issues including a lack of guardrails and unsafe ladders which exposed employees to potential falls of up to 10 feet. The safety hazards had not been addressed since a previous OSHA visit.
Let’s work together to make 2025 a safer year!
