Risk Management Benefits of Reviewing the OSHA Top 10

Words: Patrick Cunningham

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards serve to keep employers aware of common risks that can have serious consequences. This annual list highlights the most frequently cited violations that inspectors find in workplaces across the nation. It applies to all industries and accounts for hazards that may lead to preventable injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

OSHA Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards
This list can help you identify and fix critical safety gaps. For the most recent fiscal year, the top 10 OSHA hazards are:

  1. Fall Protection (General Requirements)
  2. Hazard Communication
  3. Ladders
  4. Lockout/Tagout – Control of Hazardous Energy
  5. Respiratory Protection
  6. Fall Protection Training Requirements
  7. Scaffolding
  8. Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklifts)
  9. Eye and Face Protection
  10. Machine Guarding
Take Action
Each year, state and federal OSHA agencies conduct tens of thousands of inspections, assessing hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.2 Compare the OSHA Top 10 list against your own operations and ask how you are addressing these topics. Action items may include:

  • Conducting regular workplace assessments and audits to note high-risk areas and practices.
  • Implementing training and education for employees.
  • Creating a culture of safety and encouraging open communication.
  • Documenting and reviewing risk management policies to track safety training, inspections, incidents, and policy updates to align with OSHA standards.
Addressing the OSHA Top 10 is not just about compliance. It’s about fostering a strong safety culture to help protect your most valuable assets. Connect with a Federated Insurance® marketing representative to learn more and to access helpful OSHA Top 10 risk management resources.

___

  1. NSC. OSHA’s Top 10 Safety Violations Show Persistent Risks to Workers. 2025. https://www.nsc.org/newsroom/osha-top-10-safety-violations-show-persistent-risk?srsltid=AfmBOopiKuCztGsZSxjqyBlHyn19Z29jMpKyC1YBgopcfSTAeOUD6-A-. Accessed December 2, 2025.

  2. OSHA. Frequently Cited OSHA Standards. 2025. https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/citedstandard.html. Accessed December 2, 2025.


Helical Beaming: Strengthening Masonry from the Inside Out
February 2026

In the world of masonry restoration and retrofit, the goal is always the same: preserve the character and craftsmanship of historic structures while ensuring their long-term stability. But anyone who has worked on century-old brick or stone buildings know

A Practical Guide to Modern Masonry Restoration
February 2026

THE MYTH: Masonry Lasts Forever It’s strong, yes, but movement, moisture, and time still take their toll. Common Causes Why Masonry Fails: - Differential movement - Thermal expansion & contraction - Moisture intrusion & freeze–thaw - Corrosion of steel

The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction
February 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is thrilled to announce the 2026 Annual Online Auction, the masonry industry’s premier event for scoring the best equipment at a fraction of costs. Whether you are looking to expand your equipment stockpile or

CMU Partitions: How Much Reinforcement Is Actually Required?
February 2026

Walk onto almost any job site and you’ll find masons laying out interior partitions much the same way they did decades ago. The work looks straightforward: stack the units, strike clean joints, and keep the wall plumb. And the function of these partitions