This blog is updated annually to reflect the latest OSHA regulations and penalty amounts, ensuring you have the most accurate information.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency responsible for overseeing workplace safety. OSHA violations occur when employers fail to meet federal safety standards, and they can result in citations, penalties and increased scrutiny during inspections.
Knowing how OSHA violations are classified, and how penalties are calculated, helps employers prepare for inspections and reduce enforcement risk.
What Are OSHA Violations?
An OSHA violation occurs when a company or employee willingly or unknowingly ignores potential or real workplace hazards. A violation does not always mean an incident occurred, it can also be substantiated during the OSHA inspection process.
Depending on the severity of the infraction, the company can receive a citation or fine.
OSHA Violations vs. Citations
OSHA violations and citations are closely related. A citation is the formal notice issued after an OSHA violation is identified. Citations typically include proposed penalties and a required abatement deadline.
All OSHA citations, regardless of fines, are public record and can be found on OSHA’s website, along with details of every inspection, even if no fines were issued.
If the same or a substantially similar violation occurs again within five years, it is classified as a repeat violation under federal OSHA enforcement policy.
Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations (Fiscal Year 2025)
The following are the most frequently cited standards identified during federal OSHA inspections across all industries for FY 2025.
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Hazard Communication – General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Ladders – Construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
- Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout Tagout) – General Industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
- Respiratory Protection – General Industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
- Fall Protection Training – Construction (29 CFR 1926.503)
- Scaffolding – Construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
- Powered Industrial Trucks – General Industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
- Eye and Face Protection – Construction (29 CFR 1926.102)
- Machine Guarding – General Industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
These categories consistently rank among the most cited OSHA violations, and frequently trigger penalties during inspections.
How to Look Up OSHA Violations in 2026
OSHA maintains a public inspection database where employers, managers and employees can check violations, inspection history and citation details.
Industry trend comparisons with national citation data can help identify gaps before an inspector does.
Regular safety audits and inspections performed by third-party safety consulting companies can also help identify hazards internally before they become OSHA violations.
6 Types of OSHA Violations
There are six listed types of OSHA violations, each carrying a different penalty.
1. Serious
When a business owner or manager knows a hazard can result in injury or death and does not resolve it, OSHA considers this a serious violation. Fines are based on the seriousness of the violation and can reach up to $17,004 for each.
It can be more cost-effective to have a workplace risk assessment consultant identify and resolve these safety hazards before OSHA applies a costly fine.
Gravity-based OSHA Penalties
Gravity-based penalties (GBP) are classified into three categories.
- High-gravity (serious) violation penalties are $17,004.
- Moderate-gravity (semi-serious) violation fines range from $9,716 to $14,575.
- A low-gravity (less serious) violation fine is $7,287 for each incurred penalty.
2. Other-Than-Serious
An Other-Than-Serious violation is a hazard that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm (e.g., improper recordkeeping or tripping hazards in non-production areas).
- Minimal Severity: In cases of very minor infractions, an inspector may issue a citation with no monetary penalty, provided the employer shows a proactive commitment to safety.
- Penalty Range: $0 to $ $17,004 per violation.
- Reductions: While the maximum is the same as a “Serious” violation, OSHA frequently reduces these penalties by up to 95% based on the employer’s “good faith” efforts, the size of the business, and their history of previous violations.
3. Willful or Repeated
When a violation is repeated within five years, companies will face stiffer penalties of up to $170,046. Willful violations are the most serious. The violation occurs when the employer knows there’s a risk to employees and does nothing to resolve it.
4. Posting Requirements
Any employer that receives a citation or violation notice from OSHA must post it near the incident area. The post must be visible to all employees until the violation is resolved or for five days, whichever comes first.
Learn more about OSHA recordkeeping guidelines.
5. Failure to Abate
The OSHA notice contains a date when the safety violation must be resolved. Companies that don’t meet this date are subject to the maximum penalty per day.
6. De Minimis Violation
An example of a De Minimis Violation is ladder safety. According to OSHA, a ladder having 13 inches between rungs instead of 12 inches isn’t technically compliant. A citation or notice isn’t always necessary; OSHA may give a verbal warning. A note is made in your company’s safety file, but there aren’t always penalties.
What Triggers an OSHA Inspection?
OSHA inspections do not happen at random. Most OSHA violations are identified after one of the following events:
- Employee complaints filed with OSHA
- Workplace fatalities or hospitalizations
- Referrals from other government agencies
- Targeted inspections in high hazard industries
- Follow up inspections to verify abatement of prior violations
OSHA Fines: Minimums and Maximums
Here’s a table of minimum and maximum fines for top violations.
| Type of Violation | Minimum Penalty | Maximum Penalty |
|
Serious | $1,254 per violation | $17,004 per violation |
|
Other-than-serious |
$0 per violation | $17,004 per violation |
|
Willful or Repeated | $12,147 per violation | $170,046 per violation |
|
Posting Requirements |
$0 per violation | $17,004 per violation |
| Failure to Abate | N/A | $17,004 per day past the abatement date. |
How OSHA Calculates Penalties
OSHA penalties begin with a gravity based calculation. Inspectors evaluate the severity of the hazard and the probability that an injury or illness could occur.
Once a base penalty is determined, OSHA may adjust the amount based on:
- Employer size
- Good faith safety efforts
- History of previous OSHA violations
Willful and repeated violations are typically not eligible for reductions. Documented safety programs, supervisor training and prompt hazard correction can influence how penalties are assessed.
Common OSHA Violations by Industry
Some OSHA violations are more common than others. Most are also easy to resolve. Here are a few common violations that result in an OSHA citation.
Fall Protection in Construction
To prevent this common hazard, employers must provide a safe working environment. For example, OSHA regulations require employers to have safe working conditions with clean and dry floors. Workers must also be trained in safety protocols and provided protective gear at no cost.
Learn more about available fall protection safety training if you’re familiar with this risk.
Hazard Communications in General Industry
OSHA requires that all chemical producers and importers evaluate and document the workplace hazards associated with the product. Labels and data sheets must also accompany the chemicals when transported, and you must be current with the corresponding OSHA SDS requirements.
Scaffolding General Requirements in Construction
OSHA has stringent scaffolding safety requirements regarding construction site safety protocols. The agency requires workers to wear OSHA-compliant fall protection equipment on a scaffold. The company is responsible for providing the personal protective equipment.
- Inspections are required to determine the stability of the scaffolding.
- All work materials, including tools and debris, must be contained and prevented from falling on employees.
- Specific weight maximums cannot be over-exceeded.
The final requirement is the scaffolding’s placement. It cannot be near power lines. The distance varies according to state OSHA safety laws.
FAQs About OSHA Fines and Compliance
No, OSHA does not fine employees for workplace or jobsite safety violations. Under federal law, it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause serious physical harm. Employers must ensure compliance with all OSHA standards.
OSHA fines are not used to fund OSHA directly. Instead, the fines collected for non-compliance with federal law are directed to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
No, fines or penalties paid to the government for violating any law, including OSHA standards, are not tax-deductible.
Yes. Employers have 15 working days from receipt of a citation to file a Notice of Contest. During this period employers may contest the citation classification penalty amount or abatement requirement.
Each OSHA citation includes an abatement date. Employers must correct the hazard by that deadline. Failure to correct a violation by the abatement date can result in additional daily penalties.
Reduce OSHA Violations with Safety By Design
Don’t let workplace safety hazards put your business and employees at risk. At Safety By Design, we help you stay compliant with OSHA standards, safeguarding your team from harm. Our expert safety professionals are dedicated to enhancing workplace safety awareness, preparing for workplace emergencies, and maintaining a strong focus on overall safety and health.
From mock inspections to workforce training and turnkey safety management services, our team works alongside you to reduce risk and improve safety compliance.
Contact our team today to schedule a consultation or safety training in Houston.
Thank you for visiting our website! We appreciate your interest in workplace safety. Please note that Safety by Design is not affiliated with OSHA. However, we can assist you with the following OSHA-related services:
- OSHA Mock Inspection
- OSHA Training
- Facilitate OSHA Inspections and Citations
If you need to file a complaint with the OSHA Office, please call 800-321-6742 (OSHA) or visit this page for other methods to contact them.
