Fall Protection is OSHA's Top Violation for the 14th Consecutive Year

OSHA recently unveiled the top 10 most cited violations for 2024 at the NSC Expo in Orlando, and, once again, Fall Protection remains the leading violation, marking 14 consecutive years at the top of the list. Every year, OSHA provides an updated list of the most frequently cited violations for the fiscal year, offering businesses valuable insights into areas where proactive improvements can help prevent penalties or, more importantly, worker injury and fatalities. While the top 10 violations for 2024 remain the same as in 2023, the order has shifted slightly. Notably, 4 of the top 10 violations are related to safety at height.

Below is the full list provided by OSHA, with violations related to fall protection highlighted:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888 violations
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573 violations
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443 violations
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248 violations
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050 violations
8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873 violations
9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814 violations
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,541 violations

Fall Protection – General Requirements, Ladders, Fall Protection – Training Requirements, and Scaffolding consistently appear in the top 10, highlighting ongoing concerns with fall safety. Although the number one violation saw a slight decrease in citations from last year (down from 7,188 to 6,307), it remains significantly higher than the next two combined. Fall Protection: General Requirements alone accounted for nearly 25% of all citations in the top 10.

While the decrease in overall fall protection citations is encouraging, falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities. A slight decline in numbers is not enough to drive the meaningful change needed to improve worker safety. Forward-thinking companies are increasingly focusing on their broader impact, and while some take pride in their robust safety programs, others still do not prioritize these efforts. Businesses that truly value their employees will invest in the necessary resources to ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.

Understanding fall protection regulations can be complex, but one aspect is clear: the legal responsibility to protect workers rests with employers and building owners. When a preventable accident occurs, building owners are liable, and the legal consequences often greatly outweigh OSHA fines.

That’s why it is crucial for companies committed to safety to partner with fall protection experts who can ensure compliance and worker protection. Diversified Fall Protection offers turn-key solutions, including system design, engineering, installation, certification, inspections, and training. As a trusted partner, we provide consistent, dependable service across the country and take on the liability for the systems we install and inspect, offering our clients peace of mind.

If you have questions about OSHA’s most frequent citations or are looking to bring your site into compliance, please reach out to us. We’re here to help keep your workers safe.