What is OSHA's Focus?
OSHA focuses on more than just workplace fatalities. It oversees all areas of worker health and safety, including work-related injuries and illnesses. Check out the list below to see some of the most common workplace violations reported to OSHA.
2024 Top 10 OSHA Standard Violations
OSHA’s Top 10 list of the most frequently cited standards for fiscal year 2024 includes familiar names, with Fall Protection – General Requirements leading the list for the 14th consecutive year. This list is based on violations from 10/1/2023 - 9/5/2024)
- Fall protection, construction (1926.501)
- Hazard communication standard, general industry (1910.1200)
- Ladders, construction (1926.1053)
- Respiratory Protection, general industry (1910.134)
- Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (1910.147)
- Powered industrial trucks, general industry (1910.178)
- Fall Protection Training, construction (1926.503)
- Scaffolding, construction (1926.451)
- Eye and Face Protection, construction (1926.102)
- Machine Guarding, general industry (1910.212)
In June 2020, a serious incident occurred at a manufacturing facility in Ohio involving a batch operator and a concrete mixer. The operator was injured while attempting to manually close a pneumatic discharge door after a key safety control - the exhaust valve - had broken and was not repaired. The door closed unexpectedly, causing a severe head injury. The operator was hospitalized and passed away five days later.
A federal investigation led to a guilty plea for a workplace safety violation, a maximum fine of $500,000, and a court-mandated Safety Compliance Plan.
This incident reflects several key areas of OSHA’s enforcement and prevention priorities:
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): Failure to control hazardous energy during maintenance was a central factor.
- Machine Guarding (1910.212): The lack of physical protection contributed to the severity of the incident.
- Caught-in/Between and Struck-By Hazards: Both are part of OSHA’s Focus Four, and this incident aligns with those risk categories.
- Proactive Hazard Control: OSHA emphasizes identifying and correcting equipment issues before work resumes.
- Cross-industry Relevance: While not construction-specific, the core hazard types are found in OSHA’s Top 10 violations across multiple industries.
By recognizing how these risk factors show up in different settings, employers and workers can better prevent serious injuries and remain in compliance with OSHA standards.
OSHA's "Focus Four"
Construction safety is one of OSHA's top concerns. Construction is among the most dangerous industries in the country and construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA's total inspections. These "Focus Four" accident categories are responsible for nearly three out of five construction worker deaths. Falls represent the cause of most of these accidents.
The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites are:
- Falls
- Caught-in/between
- Struck by Object
- Electrocutions
For more information on the fatal four accident categories, see courses 806 Focus Four: Fall Hazards, 807 Focus Four: Caught In-Between Hazards, 808 Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards, and 809 Focus Four: Electrocution Hazards.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. What are the four leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites, known as OSHA's "Focus Four"?
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