Scaffolding Still OSHA's Most Frequently Cited Standard

A total of 3,411 OSHA inspections related to 1926.451 resulted in 8,654 total violations for the scaffolding standard; 7,644 of those violations were considered serious by the agency.

Those violations resulted in OSHA levying $12.1 million in initial fines against violators of 1926.451. After adjustments, that penalty amount totaled $3.6 million.

The only new addition to this year's top 10 list is the mechanical power-transmission apparatus rule (29 CFR 1910.219). This standard replaced the bloodborne pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), which slipped to 14th place.

Here are the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards for fiscal year 2004*:

1. 1926.451 -- Scaffolding; 8,654 total violations; $3,566,107 in penalties (after adjustments)
2. 1910.1200 -- Hazard communication; 7,320 total violations; $745,810 in penalties (after adjustments)
3. 1926.501 -- Fall protection; 5,666 total violations; $3,255,974 in penalties (after adjustments)
4. 1910.134 -- Respiratory protection; 4,312 total violations; $562,372 in penalties (after adjustments)
5. 1910.147 -- Lockout/tagout; 4,307 total violations; $1,950,134 in penalties (after adjustments)
6. 1910.305 -- Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment machine guarding; 3,337 total violations; $813,462 in penalties (after adjustments)
7. 1910.212 -- Machine guarding; 3,249 total violations; $2,277,629 in penalties (after adjustments)
8. 1910.178 -- Powered industrial trucks; 3,149 total violations; $1,084,870 in penalties (after adjustments)
9. 1910.303 -- Electrical systems design; 2,412 total violations; $757,568 in penalties (after adjustments)
10. 1910.219 -- Mechanical power-transmission apparatus; 2,333 total violations; $878,982 in penalties (after adjustments)

*Oct. 1, 2003 - Sept. 30, 2004

Source: OSHA