The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its top 10 safety violations for 2025. Here at Global Industrial, we monitor these OSHA violations closely to see what’s moving up the list, what’s moving down, and what’s staying the same. After all, we pride ourselves on providing the very best tools and equipment to keep job sites safe. So, what do we see in the 2025 report?

 

Sadly, the same issues from your OSHA compliance checklist continue not only to be in the top 10 year after year, but also in the same positions. In fact, the top 4 are identical to previous years, and the list overall is almost a carbon copy of 2024 and 2023. What’s more, the number of violations in each category is staying fairly consistent year after year, and that clearly means there’s work to be done here. What work exactly? We’ll get into that in a moment, but for now let’s take a look at the 2025 OSHA violations.

 

Top 10 OSHA Violations for 2025 – And How To Solve Them

 

Here’s a complete breakdown of OSHA’s top 10 safety violations for 2025. And after we touch on each violation, we’ll follow up with some thoughts on what we can do, as an industry and as individuals on the worksite, to get these violation numbers down. Hopefully, way down.

 

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,914 violations
   • Falls once again are the leading (and many would say preventable) cause of death in construction, making fall protection the number one concern across the board. Employers are responsible for preventing falls from platforms, elevated work areas, or floor openings. OSHA requires fall protection at 4 feet in general industry, 5 feet in shipyards, 6 feet in construction, and 8 feet in longshoring.
   • Explore fall protection gear from Global Industrial.
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,546
   • This ensures that workers understand the chemical hazards they may encounter on the job. It requires employers to properly label all hazardous materials, provide easy access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and train employees on safe handling practices. In short, the hazard communication standard is about keeping everyone informed and protected through clear, consistent communication about chemical safety.
   • Find labeling and SDS products here.
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,405 violations
   • Ladders are crucial in many industries, yet improper use or faulty ladders contribute to thousands of injuries each year. This standard focuses on selecting the right ladder, inspecting it for damage, and using it correctly to prevent falls, ensuring workers have safe, stable access when climbing or working at heights.
   • Shop safe, OSHA compliant ladders.
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 1,953 violations
   • This standard requires employers to provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment (e.g. self- contained breathing apparatus, air purifying respirator) when workers are exposed to harmful dust, fumes, vapors, or gases. It includes vital program requirements like hazard assessment, respirator selection, fit testing, training, and maintenance to ensure employees are properly protected from any and all respiratory hazards.
   • Browse respirators and PPE.
5. Lockout/Tagout aka Control of Hazardous Energy (1910.147): 2,177 violations
   • It can be a confusing title for those not in the industry, but in layman’s terms, this OSHA heavy equipment lock out tag out checklist aims to prevent the accidental release of energy from machines or equipment during maintenance or repair. This includes shutting down equipment, isolating energy sources, applying locks or tags, and verifying that the energy is fully controlled before work begins.
   • Get lockout/tagout kits and devices.
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,826 violations
   • This standard governs keeping forklift operations safe. It makes sure only trained and certified workers drive them, that equipment gets checked regularly, and that loads are handled safely to prevent accidents. Basically, it’s there to keep both people and property protected whenever powered industrial trucks are in use.
   • Find your ideal forklift safety products.
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,907 violations
   • Fall protection is focused on making sure workers get proper training before they’re exposed to fall hazards. It requires employers to teach employees how to recognize fall risks and use fall protection equipment correctly. In short, it’s all about giving workers the knowledge and skills to stay safe when working at heights.
   • View training and safety equipment.
8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,905 violations
   • This covers the safety requirements for scaffolding used in construction and other industries. It sets rules for how scaffolds must be built, supported, and used to prevent collapses and falls. The goal is to make sure anyone working on a scaffold has a stable, secure platform and uses proper guardrails, planking, and access points.
   • Shop stable scaffold systems.
9. Eye and Face Protection - Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment (1926.102): 1,665 violations
   • Inadequate eye and face protection on construction sites can literally lead to blindness. This standard requires employers to provide and ensure workers use proper safety gear, like goggles, face shields, or helmets, whenever there’s a risk of flying debris, chemicals, or harmful light.
   • Protect eyes and faces on the job.
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,239 violations
    • This standard basically protects workers from moving parts. It requires that machines have guards in place to prevent contact with dangerous/deadly blades, gears, belts, and other hazards. It’ about keeping hands, fingers, and clothing safely away from dangerous machinery.
    • See our range of machine safety guards and shields.

 

So, that’s the 2025 list. And if you glance briefly at 2024, you might think you’re looking at the same one. Yes, the violation numbers are a little different, but not to any noticeable degree. And that begs the question, why are the workplace safety violations so similar? Even Lorraine Martin, the CEO of the National Security Council, acknowledges there’s an issue here:

 

 

Her point hits home like a 10-ton sledgehammer. Despite continuing advances in safety technology, and there have been so many, the same OSHA violations keep appearing year after year, and in almost exactly the same order.

 

We believe that behind these recurring violations are a few persistent challenges that cut across industries: reactive safety practices, insufficient training, communication gaps, and resource limitations. Let’s take a deeper dive.

 

PROBLEM 1: Reactive Safety Practices (Cure Instead of Prevention)

 

Many workplaces still operate in an archaic, and often deadly, reactive mode. They address hazards only after an incident occurs, instead of taking proactive steps to prevent it. While this approach may check all the compliance boxes (another issue that needs serious consideration), it leaves employees exposed to so many unnecessary risks.

 

In short, and this may be a hard truth to swallow, it’s probably cheaper and easier to treat an injury than it is to take steps to prevent it in the first place. However, studies show that workplaces that implement proactive hazard prevention programs see up to 50% fewer injuries than those that only respond after accidents happen. Fewer injuries means less down time, and that actually saves money.

 

 

PROBLEM 2: Insufficient Training

 

Training gaps, or just an outright lack or any foundational training, are another major driver of these repeated OSHA violations. While many companies do have programs in place, they’re often inconsistent, outdated, or both. This is especially true for high-risk areas like fall protection and respiratory protection, where workers must understand not just the equipment, but also the proper ways to use it.

 

 

PROBLEM 3: Communication Gaps

 

Even the strongest safety program can quickly fall apart if communication is one-way or confusing. Workers need to clearly understand what’s expected of them, and management must be open to feedback from the crew. Without that back-and-forth, hazards get missed and violations (and accidents) continue to happen.

 

 

PROBLEM 4: Resource Constraints

 

For many small businesses, keeping a strong safety program running is easier said than done. Tight budgets, small teams, and competing priorities make it hard to meet OSHA’s crucial standards. Still, small businesses are a big part of OSHA’s inspections, and nearly 30% of top violations happen at workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. That needs to change.

 

 

Beyond The 2025 Top 10, What Else Is New?

 

Increased Enforcement in Construction

 

If there’s one industry that’s always in OSHA’s spotlight, it’s construction; especially roofing. And for good reason. As you can see from the 2025 list (and prior years) fall protection violations once again top the charts.

 

Roofing contractors were by far the biggest offenders, followed by framing and siding crews. But it's not just falls. Ladder safety, scaffolding, and hazard communication violations continue to show up across construction sites, pointing to an issue of bad habits and recklessness. It's sad to say, many of these accidents don’t come from ignorance of the standards; they come from shortcuts, time pressures, or just "it'll be fine."

 

OSHA’s ramped-up inspections and heavier penalties will hopefully make more construction companies sit up and take notice. Conducting frequent site inspections, reinforcing fall protection training, and investing in better PPE are simple, proactive steps that prevent injuries and keep projects running smoothly.

 

An Increased Focus on Small Businesses

 

As anyone will tell you, small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. workforce. However, they’re also the most vulnerable when it comes to safety compliance. Many operate without a dedicated safety manager, and with stretched budgets don’t have the money for additional training and tools.

 

OSHA knows this, which is why they've made small business outreach a major priority. Through its On-Site Consultation Program, OSHA offers free, confidential safety assessments for small and mid-sized businesses to help identify potential hazards, fine-tune training programs, and strengthen overall safety culture; all without the threat of citations or fines.

 

The takeaway? You don't need a massive safety budget to create a safe workplace. You just need to take advantage of the tools and expertise already available. OSHA's message to small business owners is clear: they're not here just to enforce; they're here to help.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Why do OSHA violations keep repeating each year?

 

Many stem from reactive safety practices, inconsistent training, communication gaps, and resource limitations, particularly in small businesses.

 

Which violations are most common in 2025?

 

Fall protection, hazard communication, ladders, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, powered industrial trucks, scaffolding, eye and face protection, and machine guarding.

 

How can small businesses improve safety compliance?

 

Free OSHA On-Site Consultation programs, cost-effective safety tools, and proper training can dramatically reduce hazards and violations.

 

How often should training be updated?

 

Role-specific training should be refreshed every 6–12 months using microlearning, hands-on demos, and visual aids to improve retention.

 

What role does proactive safety play?

 

Proactive programs, including hazard prevention, inspections, and near-miss reporting, can reduce workplace injuries by up to 50%.

 

Why is two-way communication important?

 

Open communication ensures employees understand expectations, management hears feedback, and hazards are addressed before violations occur.

 

And that’s 2025 in a nutshell. Global Industrial is proud to be your partner in safety, offering a wide range of solutions to meet the pressing safety and security needs of today’s workplaces. Whether you’re looking to prevent falls, improve safety, or need help with OSHA compliance, we’re here to provide the tools and expertise you need to keep your workforce safe. Contact us any time, we’ll be happy to help.

 

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