---
title: 2016 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations
description: Each year OSHA releases the list of most frequently cited standards. See what violations top the 2016 list.
image: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hubfs/blog-files/OSHA_2015.jpg
---
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###### 7 min read
# [2016 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/2016-most-frequently-cited-osha-violations)
Dec 12, 2016 6:30:00 AM
Each year OSHA releases the 10 most frequently cited standards. Many of the same standards have found themselves on this list in recent years. For the sixth year in a row, Fall Protection (Standard 1926.501) tops the lists. And the only change from 2015 to 2016 is the Machine Guarding and Electrical Wiring swapped spots.
Are you taking proper precautions to avoid these hazards in your facility and promote workplace safety?
To see the 2015 list, please [click here](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/osha-update-2015-most-frequently-cited-standards-and-rising-fines).
### **Top Most Cited OSHA Violations For 2016**
| # 1 | #### Fall Protection (Construction) #### Violations: 6,906 | [1926.501](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10757&p_table=STANDARDS) | - [Gibson's The Essential Elements Of Fall Protection blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/the-essential-elements-of-fall-protection-for-construction) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Fall Protection](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/) - [National Safety Stand-Down](https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/) - [EHS Today – Fall Protection](http://ehstoday.com/ppe/fall-protection) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| # 2 | #### Hazard Communication #### Violations: 5,665 | [1910.1200](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10099) | - [Gibson's Hazard Communication: The Right To Know blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/hazard-communication-the-right-to-know) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics - Hazard Communications](https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html) - [EHS Today – Five Steps To Hazard Communication Compliance](http://ehstoday.com/sponsored/five-steps-hazard-communication-compliance) - [Society for Chemical Hazard Communication](http://www.schc.org/) - [The Center for Construction Research and Training – Hazard Communication Training Materials](http://www.cpwr.com/training/hazard-communication) |
| # 3 | #### Scaffolding (Construction) #### Violations: 3,900 | [1926.451](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10752) | - [Gibson's Scaffold Safety In Construction Blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/scaffold-safety-in-construction) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Scaffolding](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/index.html) - [OSHA Scaffolding eTool ](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/scaffolding/index.html) - [National Safety Stand-Down](https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/) |
| # 4 | #### Respiratory Protection #### Violations: 3,573 | [1910.134](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards) | - [Gibson's Understanding Respiratory Protection blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/understanding-respiratory-protection) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Respiratory Protection](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html) - [OSHA Respiratory Protection eTool](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/respiratory/index.html) - [CDC – National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory Respiratory Protection](http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respusers.html) |
| # 5 | #### Lockout/ Tagout #### Violations: 3,406 | [1910.147](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9804) | - [Gibson's Controlling Hazardous Energy: Lockout/Tagout Safety blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/controlling-hazardous-energy-lockout/tagout-safety) - [Gibson's Understanding Mechanical Hazards Blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/understanding-mechanical-hazards) - [Gibson's Methods of Machine Safeguarding Blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/methods-of-machine-safeguarding) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Lockout/Tagout](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/index.html) - [OSHA Lockout/Tagout eTool](https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/lototraining/index.html) |
| # 6 | #### Powered Industrial Trucks #### Violations: 2,855 | [1910.178](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9828) | - [Gibson’s Best Safety Practices For Forklifts blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/best-safety-practices-for-forklifts) - [Gibson’s 5 Easy Steps For Forklift Safety blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/5-easy-steps-for-forklift-safety) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Powered Industrial Trucks - Forklifts](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/poweredindustrialtrucks/index.html) - [OSHA Forklift eTool](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/pit/index.html) |
| # 7 | #### Ladders (Construction) #### Violations: 2,625 | [1926.1053](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10839) | - [Gibson's Ladder Safety: At Home And In The Workplace blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/ladder-safety-at-home-and-in-the-workplace) - [Gibson’s Ladder Safety Tips blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/ladder-safety-tips) - [National Safety Stand-Down](https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/) - [OSHA Ladder Safety eTool](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/4ladders.html) |
| # 8 | #### MACHINE GUARDING #### VIOLATIONS: 2,448 | [1910.212](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9836) | - [Gibson's Understanding Mechanical Hazards Blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/understanding-mechanical-hazards) - [Gibson's Methods of Machine Safeguarding Blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/methods-of-machine-safeguarding) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics – Machine Guarding ](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/machineguarding/index.html) - [OSHA Machine Guarding eTool](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/index.html) - [OSHA Machine Guarding Checklist](https://www.osha.gov/Publications/Mach_SafeGuard/checklist.html) |
| # 9 | #### ELECTRICAL, WIRING METHODS #### VIOLATIONS: 1,937 | [1910.305](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9882&p_table=STANDARDS) | - [Gibson's Preventing Electrical Accidents blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/preventing-electrical-accidents) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics - Electrical](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/index.html) - [OSHA Training & Reference Library - Electrical](https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/electrical/electrical.html) - [Safety + Health Magazine – Electrical Safety](http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/keywords/406-electrical-safety) |
| # 10 | #### Electrical, General Requirements #### Violations: 1,704 | [1910.303](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9880) | - [Gibson's Preventing Electrical Accidents blog](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/preventing-electrical-accidents) - [Gibson's Avoiding Electrical Hazards In The Office blog](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/workplace-safety-avoiding-electrical-hazards-in-the-office) - [OSHA Safety & Health Topics - Electrical](https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/index.html) - [OSHA Training & Reference Library - Electrical](https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/electrical/electrical.html) - [Safety + Health Magazine – Electrical Safety](http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/keywords/406-electrical-safety) |
*Standard rank and number of violations data is from [Safety & Health Magazine](http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/14927-2016-oshas-top-10-most-cited-violations). *
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