04/21/2026
OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations: What Employers Need to Know in 2026
Written By: Brent Knight, CSP
For the 15th consecutive year, Fall Protection, General Requirements (29 CFR 1926.501) remains OSHA’s most frequently cited standard, with nearly 6,000 violations reported in 2025/2026. This continued trend highlights an ongoing workplace safety challenge, especially in construction, where most of these violations occur.
At the core of fall protection issues are preventable hazards. The most common violations involve unprotected edges, missing guardrails, and failure to provide personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) for workers operating six feet or more above lower levels. Roofing, leading-edge work, and residential construction activities like framing and siding remain especially high risk. OSHA frequently cites unprotected sides and edges, residential construction, and roofing-related provisions. Training deficiencies, improper or missing anchor points, and defective or worn fall protection equipment only add to the problem.
Beyond fall protection, OSHA’s preliminary Top 10 most cited standards for 2025/2026 reveal a broader pattern of safety gaps across industries: Hazard Communication, Ladders, Lockout/Tagout, Respiratory Protection, Fall Protection Training, Scaffolding, Powered Industrial Trucks, Eye and Face Protection, and Machine Guarding.
What stands out across these categories is a common thread: most violations are not caused by complex technical failures, but by basic safety oversights, lack of planning, inadequate training, and failure to enforce existing standards.
For employers, the takeaway is clear. Compliance is not just about avoiding citations, it is about building a proactive safety culture. Prioritizing hazard assessments, investing in employee training, and maintaining equipment can significantly reduce risk. With fall protection leading the list year after year, addressing these hazards should remain a top priority, especially in construction environments where the stakes are highest.
In 2026, OSHA’s message is unmistakable: the most common hazards are also the most preventable.