This document summarizes the 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations from fiscal year 2020. Fall protection standards were the top two, with 1926.501 cited 4456 times ($24.6 million) for issues like working on sloped roofs without fall protection. Scaffolds under 1926.451 were second most cited at 1876 times ($5.5 million) for issues like missing guardrails or cross-braces. Ladders under 1926.1053 were third most cited at 1076 times ($4.9 million) for issues like ladders not extending high enough above landings. Fall protection training under 1926.503 was fourth most cited at 1358 times ($2.2 million) for issues like lack of documentation

1. Most Frequently Cited
Serious
Construction
FY 2020

2. #1 1926.501
 Fall Protection
 4456 citations
 $24.6 Million

3. #1 1926.501
 Residential
Construction #1
 Sloped Roofs
 Flat Roofs
 Open Sided Floors

4. #2 1926.451
 Scaffolds
 1876 citations
 $5.5 Million
ANSI A10.8 requires
scaffolds to be tagged to
indicate whether scaffold is
safe for use.

5. #2 1926.451
 No guardrails
 Not fully planked
 Overloading wood
planks with Block
and Brick
 Missing cross
braces
 No baseplates and
mudsills
 No Scaffold
Competent Person

6. #3 1926.1053
 Ladders
 1076 citations
 $4.9 million
 A platform ladder is
much safer than a
regular step ladder.
 Worker can stand on a
wide platform and rarely
lose balance ,

7. #3 1926.1053
 Ladders not 3 feet
above landing
 Stepladder folded up
and used as extension
ladder – not as
designed
 Damaged ladder
 Ladder overloaded

8. #4 1926.503
 Fall Protection
Training
 1358 citations
 $2.2 million

9. #4 1926.503
 Fall Protection Training
not documented
 Worker exposed to 12
foot fall
 Incorrect use of body
harness and lanyards
 Fall harness not
inspected
 Snaphooks rusted

10. #5 1926.102
 Safety Glasses
 1170 citations
 $3.8 million

11. #5 1926.102
 Safety Glasses
worn
 Wearing regular
glasses vs. safety
glasses.

12. #6 1926.20
 Accident
Prevention
Program
 698 citations
 $2.5 million

13. #6 1926.20
 Accident
Prevention
Program not in
writing
 No Competent
Person
 No Accident
investigations

14. #7 1926.100
 Head Protection
 633 citations
 $1.8 million
Do not drill holes in the
hard hat

15. #7 1926.100
 No Hard Hat
 Hard hat has stickers
at the brim
 Hardhat suspension
not changed annually
 Hard hat older than five
years

16. #8 1926.651
 General Excavation
Requirements
 593 citations
 $2.9 million

17. #8 1926.651
 Spoil Pile not 2 feet
 Competent Person
 Ladder or egress not in
trench

18. #9 1926.502
 Fall protection systems
 501 citations
 $1.4 Million

19. #9 1926.502
 Fall over 6 feet
 No Rescue Provision
 Snaphook gate not
3600
 Retractable lanyard not
working
 No leading edge
lanyard if fall over steel
or concrete

20. #10 1910.1200
 GHS Hazard
communication
program
 474 citations
 $515 thousands

21. #10 1910.1200
 No written hazard
communication
program
 No Labels on
containers
 No training of
employees
 No list of chemicals

22. Background
 Classes: OSHA 10/30 Hour, Incident Investigation,
Confined Space, Excavation Competent Person, Safety,
Cranes Signaling, Rigging Safety, Fall Protection, Scaffold
Competent Person, Silica Competent Person, CHST Prep,
Lockout, Machine Guarding, OSHA Recordkeeping, and
Safety Management
 Services: Mock OSHA Inspections, Site Safety Audits,
Expert Witness,
 Since 1987, he has trained over 50,000 people including
OSHA compliance officers and Fortune 500 Clients in
numerous areas of Safety and Health.
22
40 years working with top companies to
achieve world class safety in their sector.
815-354-6853 johnanewquist@gmail.com