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.


About: Safety Library
The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →