OSHA released their list of Top 10 most frequently cited standards for the fiscal year 2015 ( October 1, 2014 – Sept. 30, 2015).

1. Fall Protection
2. Hazard Communication
3. Scaffolding
4. Respiratory Protection
5. Lockout/ Tagout   (as it applies to the control of energy during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment)
6. Powered Industrial Trucks
7. Ladders
8. Electrical – Wiring Methods
9. Machine Guarding
10. Electrical – General Requirements

These figures are current as of January 5, 2016. They represent the standards cited in federal OSHA inspections at various work sites.

The total number of federal inspections in 2015 was 35,820.

The 2015 list is the same as the 2014 list, with only a few of the standards listed in a different order. “Electrical – Wiring Methods” fell to #8 this year from #7 last year. “Electrical – General Requirements” remains at #10.

OSHA publishes this list annually because they want employers to take note of recognized hazards at their own work sites and fix them before OSHA comes in and does an inspection. OSHA standards establish the minimum performance requirements desired to protect workers from workplace hazards.