Every year, OSHA releases its most-cited standards—and every year, the list looks familiar. Despite new technology, better equipment, and more training resources than ever, the same core safety issues continue to put employers at risk for citations, fines, and injuries.
OSHA’s preliminary 2025 enforcement data shows that fall protection, hazard communication, ladders, lockout/tagout, and respiratory protection once again dominate the violation list. These aren’t obscure regulations. They’re daily jobsite realities—and when they’re overlooked, the consequences can be serious.
Below, we break down the Top 5 OSHA violations in 2025, explain why they keep happening, and show practical ways to avoid them in 2026 using short, consistent training that actually sticks.
Fall protection remains OSHA’s most-cited standard in 2025—and for good reason. Falls continue to be the leading cause of fatalities in construction, accounting for roughly one-third of all construction deaths each year. Even a short fall can result in life-altering injuries or worse.
Most fall protection violations don’t happen because employers don’t care—they happen because protection is incomplete, improperly used, or misunderstood. Missing guardrails, unprotected edges, incorrect tie-off points, and poorly fitted harnesses are among the most common issues cited by OSHA inspectors.
What OSHA is commonly citing
Missing or inadequate guardrails on elevated surfaces
Improper use of personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)
No clear tie-off or rescue plan
Open holes, skylights, or leading edges left unprotected
How to avoid it in 2026
Preventing fall protection violations starts with consistency. Crews need to know when fall protection is required, how to inspect equipment, and how to tie off correctly for the task they’re performing. Short, frequent refreshers—especially when work conditions change—are far more effective than once-a-year training.
Using a tool like Ving, safety leaders can push quick fall protection toolbox talks, reinforce expectations before high-risk tasks, and document training automatically—so expectations are clear and proof is always available.
Hazard communication violations continue to rank near the top because HazCom programs are often incomplete rather than nonexistent. Many companies have SDS binders and labels in place, but employees don’t know how to use them—or the information hasn’t been updated as chemicals change.
OSHA frequently finds that workers cannot explain what chemical hazards they’re exposed to, where to find safety data sheets, or what pictograms on labels actually mean. When that knowledge gap exists, citations—and injuries—aren’t far behind.
What OSHA is commonly citing
Missing or outdated Safety Data Sheets
Unlabeled or improperly labeled secondary containers
Employees unable to explain chemical hazards
Training that isn’t documented or job-specific
How to avoid it in 2026
Effective HazCom training needs to reflect what employees actually use on the job—not just what’s in a binder. Reviewing top chemicals quarterly, reinforcing label recognition, and walking through real SDS examples helps bridge the gap between policy and practice.
With Ving, HazCom training can be delivered in short bursts, reinforced regularly, and tracked automatically—making it easier to keep up as chemicals, crews, and job sites change.
Ladders may seem simple, but they’re responsible for tens of thousands of workplace injuries each year. OSHA continues to cite ladder violations because improper selection, setup, and use remain widespread across industries.
Inspectors often see ladders that are the wrong height or duty rating, placed on unstable surfaces, or used in ways they were never designed for. Damaged ladders left in service are another common red flag.
What OSHA is commonly citing
Using the wrong ladder for the task
Improper setup or unstable footing
Standing on top steps or overreaching
Damaged ladders not removed from service
How to avoid it in 2026
Ladder safety improves dramatically when expectations are simple and reinforced often. A quick reminder before a job starts—covering inspection, setup, and safe climbing—can prevent both injuries and citations.
Ving makes it easy to deliver ladder safety refreshers as quick toolbox talks and pair them with inspection checklists that crews can complete on the spot.
Lockout/tagout violations are among the most serious OSHA cites because they involve unexpected equipment startup—one of the leading causes of severe and fatal injuries. Many companies have a written LOTO program, but OSHA often finds that it isn’t being followed consistently in the field.
Missing machine-specific procedures, skipped energy verification steps, and undocumented annual inspections are common issues that lead to citations.
What OSHA is commonly citing
No machine-specific LOTO procedures
Failure to verify zero energy
Inadequate training for authorized vs. affected employees
Missing or undocumented periodic inspections
How to avoid it in 2026
LOTO safety improves when procedures are clear, visual, and reinforced regularly. Training should focus on the machines employees actually work on—not generic examples.
Using Ving, safety teams can reinforce LOTO steps through short trainings, document inspections, and ensure the right employees receive the right level of instruction.
Respiratory protection violations often occur when respirators are present but the required program elements are missing. OSHA expects more than just handing out respirators—medical evaluations, fit testing, training, and proper maintenance are all required.
Inspectors frequently cite companies for incomplete documentation or respirators that don’t match the hazard.
What OSHA is commonly citing
No written respiratory protection program
Missing medical evaluations or fit testing
Improper respirator or cartridge selection
Poor storage, maintenance, or training
How to avoid it in 2026
Respiratory programs should be reviewed anytime hazards change. Employees also need regular reminders on how to wear, maintain, and store respirators correctly.
Ving helps reinforce these expectations through short, repeatable training and provides documentation that’s easy to access during inspections.
The reason these violations show up year after year isn’t a lack of effort—it’s a lack of reinforcement. Long, infrequent training sessions don’t match how people work or retain information.
Ving is built to fix that.
With Ving, companies can:
Deliver short, OSHA-aligned training on high-risk topics
Schedule automatic refreshers throughout the year
Use checklists to confirm field compliance
Track completions and spot gaps before OSHA does
If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, focus on the hazards OSHA cites most—and train in a way your team will actually remember.
Consistent, simple training doesn’t just reduce citations. It prevents injuries, builds accountability, and shows OSHA that safety is more than a checkbox.