Top OSHA Violations in Construction

Dangers lurk on construction sites. Workers have to be careful of so many possible dangers, from falls to electricity to scaffolding issues to trench collapses.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards for all industries. Fall protection violations once again topped OSHA’s list in fiscal year 2025. The agency discovered ongoing safety challenges across the construction industry. While OSHA issued approximately 5.6% fewer citations overall compared to fiscal year 2024 (from 14,617 to 13,796), the same core hazards continue to dominate enforcement activity.

Here is a closer look at the five most frequently cited standards in 2025.

Fall Protection (5,914 Violations)

Falls remain the leading cause of serious injury and death in construction, making this category OSHA’s top enforcement priority.

Common violations include:

• Failure to provide guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
• Unprotected edges, holes, and leading edges.
• Improper use of harnesses and anchor points.

Reduce risk by implementing comprehensive fall protection plans, conducting daily hazard assessments, and ensuring proper equipment use, and reinforce training through routine safety briefings.

Ladders (2,405 Violations)

Improper ladder use continues to cause thousands of injuries annually.

Common violations include:

• Using damaged or defective ladders.
• Improper ladder angle or placement.
• Standing on top steps or overreaching.
• Using the wrong ladder type for the task.

Reduce risk by providing ladder safety training, inspect ladders daily, and ensure workers understand correct setup, positioning, and load limits.

Fall Protection Training (1,907 Violations)

This category reflects OSHA’s focus not just on equipment, but on proper worker education.

Common violations include:

• Failure to provide required fall protection training.
• Lack of documentation proving training occurred.
• Inadequate instruction on recognizing fall hazards.

Reduce risk by delivering formal, documented training programs covering hazard recognition, equipment use, and emergency procedures.

Scaffolding (1,905 Violations)

Scaffolding violations remain a major concern due to their high injury potential.

Common violations include:

• Missing guardrails and toe boards.
• Improper plank installation.
• Overloaded platforms.
• Unstable footing or lack of base support.

Reduce risk by ensuring scaffolding is erected and inspected by qualified personnel, follow manufacturer guidelines, and perform routine safety checks.

Eye and Face Protection (1,665 Violations)

Eye and face injuries remain common across construction trades.

Common violations include:

• Failure to provide appropriate protective eyewear.
• Workers not wearing provided personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Inadequate protection against flying debris, dust, chemicals, or sparks.

Reduce risk by providing comfortable, task-appropriate PPE, enforce usage policies, and reinforce safety culture through leadership examples.

Contact Us Today

Safety needs to continue to be a top priority on construction sites. While the number of incidents has decreased, a lot still needs to be done.

A Florida contractor representation lawyer from Linkhorst Law Firm understands the many issues involved in the construction industry. We are here to help our clients resolve disputes as early as possible to avoid unnecessary litigation costs. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling 561-626-8880.

Source:

lion.com/lion-news/september-2025/10-most-cited-osha-violations-of-2025-revealed#:~:text=5%20Most%20Cited%20Construction%20Standards,and%20Face%20Protection%20(1%2C665%20violations)