Top OSHA Violations of 2024 and Higher Penalties for 2025
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):
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 6,307 violations
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,888
- Ladders (1926.1053): 2,573
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,470
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,443
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,248
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 2,050
- Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,873
- Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,814
- 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.
Latest from NAHBNow
Advocacy
Dec 05, 2025
NAHB's Monthly Update Features Talking Points on Advocacy Victories in 2025The update provides the latest messaging framework to help members articulate all the legislative, regulatory and business wins NAHB secured this year.
Design
Dec 04, 2025
Top Color Trends for 2026Neutrals and rich, luxurious hues dominate this year's color trends, along with sophisticated greens. Whether you’re helping a client with a bathroom remodel or searching for fresh ideas for a model home, you can use these color trends for inspiration for your next project. Check out the 2026 Colors of the Year.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Dec 05, 2025
Mortgage Rates Continue to Trend Lower in NovemberThe average mortgage rate in November continued to trend lower to its lowest level in over a year. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.24% in November, 2 basis points (bps) lower than in October. Meanwhile, the 15-year rate increased 3 bps to 5.51%.
Economics
Dec 04, 2025
Number of Bathrooms in New Single-Family Homes in 2024Single-family homes started in 2024 typically had two full bathrooms, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Construction. Homes with three full bathrooms continued to have the second largest share of starts at around 23%. Meanwhile, both homes with four full bathrooms or more and homes with one bathroom or less made up under ten percent of homes started.
Economics
Dec 03, 2025
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: Third Quarter 2025House prices continued to rise in the third quarter of 2025, though the pace of growth slowed as elevated mortgage rates, affordability challenges, and persistent economic uncertainty weighed on consumer demand. After several years of rapid growth, Hawaii and 38 metro areas saw house price declines this quarter, highlighting significant regional variations in market conditions.