Top OSHA Violations of 2024 and Higher Penalties for 2025

OSHA
Published

Beginning Jan. 15, OSHA’s maximum penalties for violations will increase from $16,131 per violation to $16,550 for each serious and other-than-serious violation, as well as each day an employer fails to abate a previously cited violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will also increase from $161,323 per violation to $165,514 per violation.

This represents an annual increase of around 2.6% from 2024 to 2025, a slight decrease from the 3.2% increase OSHA announced in penalty increases from 2023 to 2024. The penalty increases are tied to the annual cost-of-living increases across the federal government and to inflation.

Visit the OSHA Penalties page and read the final rule for more information.

The most common types of construction site injuries result from falls. This aligns with OSHA’s most-cited violations on jobsites.

Top OSHA violations for fiscal year 2024 (with standard cited):

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations
  2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888
  3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573
  4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470
  5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050
  8. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873
  9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814
  10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,541

The safety of residential construction workers is a top priority of NAHB and should be the top priority of every builder, remodeler and contractor. NAHB members and non-members can use a variety of free safety resources from NAHB, including our Jobsite Safety mobile app, Video Toolbox Talks series and more, to help keep their workers safe.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy

Apr 03, 2026

NAHB’s Monthly Update Features a Codes Victory and Economic Snapshot

The talking points this month feature news related to federal energy code mandates and the current economic conditions for the housing industry.

Safety

Apr 02, 2026

Call Before You Dig: 6 Key Steps to Prevent Utility Strikes on the Jobsite

April’s National Safe Digging Month is a timely reminder for builders, contractors and trade partners to prioritize one of the most critical and often overlooked jobsite safety practices: preventing utility strikes.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Apr 03, 2026

Job Growth Rebounds in March

The U.S. labor market showed signs of a modest rebound in March following a weak February, as payroll employment increased and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3%. Job growth was led by healthcare, construction, and transportation and warehousing.

Economics

Apr 02, 2026

Iran Conflict Reverses Decline in Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates, which dipped below 6% in February, climbed back up to end the month just under 6.4%. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.18% in March, 13 points (bps) higher than February. The average 15-year rate also increased by the same amount to 5.56%. Despite the recent increase, both rates remain lower than a year ago by 47 bps and 27 bps, respectively.

Economics

Apr 01, 2026

Consumer Confidence Climbs Despite Oil Price Surge

Consumer confidence in March rose to a three-month high as consumers’ improved view of current business and labor market conditions outweighed weaker future expectations.