Fall Protection leads OSHA's preliminary 2026 Top 10, followed by Hazard Communication and Lockout/Tagout. The list highlights persistent problems involving falls, chemicals, machinery and workplace equipment.
Use this guide to review the rankings, understand the standards and identify questions for your safety program. Citation frequency is a useful starting point; your own work and hazards determine which requirements apply.
OSHA Top 10 Most Cited Standards for 2026
OSHA announced its preliminary FY2026 list on September 15, 2026, at the National Safety Council's Safety Congress & Expo. See the National Safety Council announcement for the reported totals.
| Rank | OSHA Standard | Standard Number | Preliminary 2026 Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall Protection — General Requirements | 1926.501 | 4,041 |
| 2 | Hazard Communication | 1910.1200 | 1,961 |
| 3 | Control of Hazardous Energy — Lockout/Tagout | 1910.147 | 1,863 |
| 4 | Scaffolding — General Requirements | 1926.451 | 1,725 |
| 5 | Ladders | 1926.1053 | 1,659 |
| 6 | Respiratory Protection | 1910.134 | 1,608 |
| 7 | Powered Industrial Trucks | 1910.178 | 1,379 |
| 8 | Fall Protection — Training Requirements | 1926.503 | 1,273 |
| 9 | Eye and Face Protection | 1926.102 | 1,120 |
| 10 | Machine Guarding | 1910.212 | 1,072 |
Important: These are preliminary FY2026 figures. OSHA's finalized annual data may differ from the preliminary numbers announced in September.
These figures count citations involving standards, each of which can contain many requirements. They do not mean every provision of a standard was violated.
What changed from 2025 to 2026?
The same ten standards appear in both lists. This comparison uses OSHA’s finalized FY2025 ranking and the preliminary FY2026 announcement; changes in rank do not establish changes to the regulations.
| Standard | 2025 Rank | 2026 Preliminary Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Protection — General Requirements | 1 | 1 | — |
| Hazard Communication | 2 | 2 | — |
| Lockout/Tagout | 4 | 3 | ↑ 1 |
| Scaffolding | 6 | 4 | ↑ 2 |
| Ladders | 3 | 5 | ↓ 2 |
| Respiratory Protection | 5 | 6 | ↓ 1 |
| Powered Industrial Trucks | 8 | 7 | ↑ 1 |
| Fall Protection Training | 7 | 8 | ↓ 1 |
| Eye and Face Protection | 9 | 9 | — |
| Machine Guarding | 10 | 10 | — |
Scaffolding rose two places and Lockout/Tagout moved into the top three. Ladders fell from third to fifth. Compare these rankings with your own workplace exposures when choosing review priorities.
1. Fall Protection — General Requirements: 29 CFR 1926.501
Preliminary 2026 citations: 4,041
For the 16th consecutive year, Fall Protection — General Requirements sits at the top of OSHA's most cited standards.
29 CFR 1926.501 is a construction standard that establishes when employers must provide fall protection and what types of protection may be used in different situations.
For many common construction exposures involving unprotected sides and edges, employees working 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected using an appropriate system such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems.
Areas employers may want to review
- Are walking and working surfaces capable of supporting employees safely?
- Where do employees face unprotected edges, holes, openings or other fall hazards?
- Is the fall-protection method appropriate for the work being performed?
- Do employees understand when fall protection is required?
Construction employers should also pay close attention to No. 8 on this list: Fall Protection Training. Providing equipment and providing effective training are separate responsibilities.
Related Regs Authority resources: Browse our Fall Protection safety training resources.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501.
2. Hazard Communication: 29 CFR 1910.1200
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,961
Hazard Communication—or HazCom—holds the No. 2 position again in 2026.
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard is designed to make sure information about hazardous chemicals is communicated to workers who may be exposed to them.
For covered employers, HazCom can involve several interconnected pieces:
- A written hazard communication program
- A list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Proper labels and other forms of warning
- Safety Data Sheets, or SDSs
- Employee information and training
2026 is an especially important year for HazCom
OSHA updated the Hazard Communication Standard in 2024 and later extended its implementation deadlines.
For substances, employers have until November 20, 2026 to update workplace labeling, update the hazard communication program and provide additional employee training as necessary for newly identified hazards.
That doesn't automatically mean every employee must retake a full HazCom course on November 20. Employers should determine what hazard information has changed and whether additional training or program updates are required for their workplace.
Areas employers may want to review
- Does the written HazCom program reflect the chemicals actually used onsite?
- Is the hazardous-chemical inventory current?
- Are current SDSs readily accessible during employees' work shifts?
- Have updated classifications or SDSs introduced hazards employees have not previously been trained on?
Related Regs Authority resources: Explore Hazard Communication training, SDS training, chemical-label training, streaming courses and employee materials.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200.
3. Lockout/Tagout: 29 CFR 1910.147
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,863
The Control of Hazardous Energy standard—better known as Lockout/Tagout or LOTO—rose from fourth in 2025 to third in the preliminary 2026 rankings.
LOTO addresses a particularly dangerous situation: someone is servicing or maintaining equipment and the machine unexpectedly starts, energizes or releases stored energy.
The hazard isn't limited to electricity. Hazardous energy can include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal and other energy sources.
Under 1910.147, covered employers must establish an energy-control program that includes energy-control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections.
Areas employers may want to review
- Which machines and servicing activities fall under the energy-control program?
- Are machine-specific energy-control procedures accurate and usable?
- Have all hazardous energy sources—including stored energy—been identified?
- Have machines, equipment or processes changed since the procedures were written?
LOTO programs should reflect the machines and servicing work employees actually encounter.
Related Regs Authority resources: Browse Lockout/Tagout safety training and employee materials.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147.
4. Scaffolding — General Requirements: 29 CFR 1926.451
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,725
Scaffolding made one of the largest jumps in this year's ranking, moving from sixth in the finalized 2025 list to fourth in the preliminary 2026 list.
OSHA's construction scaffolding requirements cover a wide range of issues involving scaffold capacity, construction, access, use and fall protection.
Areas employers may want to review
- Is the scaffold appropriate for the work and expected loads?
- Are platforms properly constructed and positioned?
- Are employees using a safe means of access?
- Are employees protected from falling objects where necessary?
A general fall-protection policy does not cover every scaffold requirement. Include scaffold-specific access, inspection and protection measures in your review.
Related Regs Authority resources: Explore Scaffold Safety training resources.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451.
5. Ladders: 29 CFR 1926.1053
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,659
Ladders slipped from third to fifth in this year's ranking, but they remain one of OSHA's most frequently cited construction standards.
OSHA's ladder standard addresses both ladder design and how ladders are actually used.
For example, when a portable ladder is used to access an upper landing, its side rails generally must extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. If that isn't possible because of the ladder's length, additional securing and a grasping device are required.
Areas employers may want to review
- Is the right type and length of ladder being used?
- Are damaged ladders removed from service?
- Are ladders kept free of oil, grease and other slipping hazards?
- Are workers standing or climbing in ways prohibited by the ladder's design?
Related Regs Authority resource: See our Ladder Safety Training Video Kit or Ladder Safety Streaming Access.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053.
6. Respiratory Protection: 29 CFR 1910.134
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,608
When employees need respirators to protect them from harmful airborne contaminants, OSHA's requirements go far beyond purchasing a box of masks.
Where respirator use is required, employers generally need a written, worksite-specific respiratory protection program administered by an appropriately trained program administrator.
Depending on the situation, the program can involve respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit testing, proper use, maintenance, training and program evaluation.
Areas employers may want to review
- Have respiratory hazards been properly evaluated?
- Can the hazard be controlled through engineering controls before relying on respirators?
- Has the employer selected an appropriate respirator for the hazard?
- Does training address the actual equipment employees use?
Related Regs Authority resource: Compare Respiratory Safety Streaming Training and Respiratory Safety Video Training.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.
7. Powered Industrial Trucks: 29 CFR 1910.178
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,379
Powered Industrial Trucks moved from eighth in 2025 to seventh in the preliminary 2026 ranking.
This standard covers forklifts and a variety of other powered industrial trucks.
Operator training is a major part of the rule, but an important detail frequently gets misstated: OSHA does not simply require every forklift operator to receive refresher training once a year.
OSHA requires an evaluation of each operator's performance at least once every three years.
Refresher training is required when circumstances indicate it is needed—for example, after unsafe operation, an accident or near miss, an evaluation showing unsafe operation, assignment to a different type of truck, or a workplace change that could affect safe operation.
Areas employers may want to review
- Has each operator received appropriate formal and practical instruction?
- Has each operator been evaluated in the workplace?
- Are operator certifications complete?
- Are trucks inspected and maintained appropriately?
Related Regs Authority resources: Browse Forklift Safety training and employee resources.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178.
8. Fall Protection — Training Requirements: 29 CFR 1926.503
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,273
Fall protection appears twice: No. 1 addresses the duty to provide protection; No. 8 addresses training.
OSHA requires employers to provide a training program for employees who may be exposed to fall hazards. Employees must be able to recognize fall hazards and understand the procedures used to minimize them.
The training must cover applicable subjects such as the nature of fall hazards, proper use of fall-protection systems and relevant requirements of the standard.
Employers also need to document the training
Under 1926.503, employers must prepare a written certification record containing required information about the employee and training.
Retraining is required when an employee no longer has the understanding and skill needed to meet the standard—for example, because workplace conditions or fall-protection systems have changed or because an employee demonstrates inadequate knowledge or use of the system.
Areas employers may want to review
- Which employees are exposed to fall hazards?
- Does training cover the hazards employees actually face?
- Can employees demonstrate proper use of the protection provided?
- Have workplace conditions or protection systems changed?
Related Regs Authority resources: Browse Fall Protection training resources.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.503.
9. Eye and Face Protection: 29 CFR 1926.102
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,120
Eye and Face Protection holds the ninth spot again in 2026.
OSHA's construction standard requires appropriate eye or face protection when employees are exposed to hazards such as:
- Flying particles
- Molten metal
- Liquid chemicals
- Acids or caustic liquids
- Chemical gases or vapors
- Potentially injurious light radiation
When flying objects are a hazard, employees also need appropriate side protection.
Areas employers may want to review
- What specific eye and face hazards are present?
- Does the selected PPE protect against those hazards?
- Is side protection needed?
- Are workers actually wearing the protection when exposed?
Related Regs Authority resources: See Eye Safety Streaming Training, the Eye Safety Video Kit, and employee training booklets.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.102.
10. Machine Guarding: 29 CFR 1910.212
Preliminary 2026 citations: 1,072
29 CFR 1910.212 requires one or more methods of machine guarding to protect operators and other employees from hazards including:
- Points of operation
- Ingoing nip points
- Rotating parts
- Flying chips
- Flying sparks
OSHA specifically requires guarding of a machine's point of operation when employees could otherwise be exposed to injury.
Areas employers may want to review
- Where are the machine's points of operation?
- Are rotating parts, nip points and other moving components accessible?
- Are guards properly installed and secured?
- Have production changes created new exposures?
Machine guarding and LOTO often intersect, but they address different situations. A guard that protects employees during normal operation doesn't eliminate the need for energy control during covered servicing and maintenance.
Related Regs Authority resources: Compare Machine Safeguarding Streaming Training, the Machine Safeguarding Video Kit, and employee training booklets.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212.
Put the Top 10 to work
Five entries are construction standards in 29 CFR Part 1926; the other five are general-industry standards in Part 1910. Start with the standards relevant to your operations rather than treating all ten as a universal inspection checklist.
- Walk the workplace. Identify the tasks, equipment and hazards behind the relevant standards.
- Compare procedures with practice. Ask employees where instructions are unclear, equipment has changed or shortcuts occur.
- Choose specific improvements. Assign responsibility for correcting hazards, updating procedures and providing appropriate training.
- Check the result. Confirm that employees can apply what they learned and that the improvement works in daily use.
For the underlying text, compare our OSHA 1926 construction regulation book and OSHA 1910 general industry regulation book. Video instruction can support a program, but it does not replace required practical instruction, workplace evaluation or other employer duties.
Common questions
Is OSHA’s 2026 Top 10 final?
No. The September announcement uses preliminary fiscal-year data. Final totals can change. Fall Protection is first, followed by Hazard Communication and Lockout/Tagout.
Does OSHA require annual forklift refresher training?
There is no blanket annual refresher requirement in 1910.178. Operator performance must be evaluated at least every three years; specified events such as unsafe operation, an accident or near miss, or relevant changes in equipment or workplace conditions trigger refresher training. See the powered industrial truck standard.
Why is fall protection listed twice?
The list covers two separate standards: 1926.501 addresses the duty to provide fall protection, while 1926.503 addresses employee training. Review both equipment and training practices.
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This article is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. OSHA requirements depend on the work, hazards, industry and circumstances involved. Consult the applicable standards and current OSHA guidance when evaluating compliance obligations.
Updated October 1, 2026.