Category: Safety Systems

Top OSHA Violations for 2025: Is Your Workplace Compliant?

OSHA violations are more than just paperwork errors — they can cost property teams thousands in fines and, more importantly, put workers at risk. Each year, OSHA releases its list of the most frequently cited standards, offering valuable insight into where safety programs tend to fall short.

For building owners, property managers, building engineers, and maintenance teams, understanding these top violations is an opportunity to strengthen safety practices and prevent costly surprises.

#1 Violation — Fall Protection: General Requirements (1926.501) 

Why It Matters

Fall protection consistently ranks as OSHA’s most cited violation — and for good reason. Waterproofing projects, skylight maintenance, rooftop HVAC repairs, and loading dock edges all create daily exposure points across properties. In 2023 alone, 421 construction workers lost their lives to falls, making this not only the most common violation but also one of the most serious.

What Inspectors Look For

OSHA inspectors focus on missing or incomplete guardrails, unprotected skylights, and workers operating at heights without fall protection. They also expect to see a written fall protection plan and documentation showing that every employee has been trained to use fall equipment properly. Missing any of these elements can trigger citations.

Quick Fixes

  • Map rooftop and elevated work hazards, including skylights and edges.
  • Mark designated safe travel paths and controlled access zones.
  • Install temporary or permanent guardrails where needed.
  • Use self-retracting lifelines anchored to certified points rated for 5,000 pounds per worker.
  • Document all training sessions — inspectors may request to review the records.
  • Schedule a rooftop safety audit to confirm compliance and identify risk areas.

#2 Violation — Hazard Communication (1910.1200)

Why It Matters

Chemical safety violations often catch property teams off guard — and they’re frequently found in everyday tasks. Unlabeled spray bottles, cleaning products transferred into secondary containers, and outdated Safety Data Sheets (SDS) binders all create compliance gaps that can lead to costly penalties and safety risks.

What Inspectors Look For

OSHA inspectors expect to see a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program, current SDS documentation, and proper labeling on every container that holds cleaning supplies, maintenance chemicals, or roof coatings. Missing even one of these elements can trigger citations.

Quick Fixes

  • Review and update your written HazCom program annually.
  • Label all secondary containers clearly and consistently.
  • Maintain up-to-date SDS records and store them in an accessible location.
  • Provide annual HazCom training for engineering and janitorial staff.
  • Treat every unlabeled container as a potential violation and address it immediately.

#3 Violation — Ladders (1926.1053)  

Why It Matters

Portable and fixed ladders are among the most common tools on any property — and among the most frequently cited OSHA violations. Maintenance teams and contractors use them daily for ceiling repairs, mechanical access, and to access the roof, but improper use and poor maintenance make them a persistent safety risk.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors note damaged ladders with bent rails or missing rungs, workers standing on top steps, unsecured ladders at roof hatches, and improper ladder angles. Makeshift repairs or uninspected ladders can result in immediate citations.

Quick Fixes

  • Establish quarterly ladder inspection logs.
  • Tag and remove damaged ladders immediately.
  • Replace makeshift or modified ladders with rated equipment.
  • Install permanent ladder systems with guardrails at frequently accessed roof points.
  • Train all staff on proper ladder setup and storage.

#4 Violation — Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) (1910.147)

Why It Matters

Energy control violations can significantly impact properties because mechanical rooms often operate with powerful equipment. Chillers, pumps, air handlers, compactors, and elevator systems all require lockout/tagout procedures, especially when coordinating with outside vendors.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors require equipment-specific LOTO procedures for each asset, as well as annual audits and documentation to demonstrate that both authorized and affected employees have received training. Generic procedures or missing locks and tags often result in citations.

Quick Fixes

  • Develop one-page LOTO cards for each piece of equipment.
  • Conduct annual observation audits to verify compliance.
  • Standardize locks and tags across your property.
  • Train all employees involved in maintenance or repairs on proper LOTO procedures.

#5 Violation — Respiratory Protection (1910.134) 

Why It Matters

Respiratory protection violations often occur during routine property maintenance — applying roof coatings, handling pool chemicals, or using cleaning solvents. While distributing N95 masks may seem sufficient, OSHA requires a much more comprehensive approach to respiratory safety. Inadequate programs put workers at risk of chemical exposure and result in costly citations.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors expect to see a written respiratory protection program, documented medical evaluations, and proper fit testing before any employee uses a respirator. They also review whether respirator cartridges are compatible with the chemicals in use. Even voluntary respirator use requires written procedures, training, and records.

Quick Fixes

  • Designate a program lead to manage medical evaluations and fit testing.
  • Use respirator cartridges rated for each chemical hazard.
  • Keep training records current, including for voluntary users.
  • Inspect respirator inventories regularly to ensure proper ratings and condition.

#6 Violation— Fall Protection: Training (1926.503)

Why It Matters

Fall protection equipment only works when employees know how to use it correctly. Violations occur when workers access rooftops or perform façade tasks without documented training, or when retraining is overlooked after changes to equipment or procedures.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors verify that every employee who works at height has completed certified training. They often quiz workers on procedures and check for rosters, quiz results, and retraining documentation.

Quick Fixes

  • Schedule annual rooftop and fall protection training for all staff.
  • Document every session, including sign-in sheets and quiz results.
  • Hold toolbox talks before any waterproofing or façade project begins.
  • Retrain immediately if there are changes to equipment or procedures.

#7 Violation— Scaffolding (1926.451)

Why It Matters

Scaffolding violations often surprise property teams because contractors typically handle setup during façade restoration, window cleaning, or exterior painting projects. However, property managers and building owners may still be held liable if they fail to ensure proper oversight, documentation, and verification that contractors comply with OSHA scaffolding requirements.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors check for competent-person supervision, proper planking, secure tie-ins, safe access points, complete guardrails with toeboards, and posted load ratings. Missing any of these components can lead to citations for the property owner.

Quick Fixes

  • Require contractors to provide daily scaffold inspection logs.
  • Keep copies of erection drawings and competent-person certifications in project files.
  • Verify that complete guardrail systems and toeboards are in place before work begins.
  • Inspect scaffold tie-ins and access points regularly during use.

#8 Violation — Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178)

Why It Matters

Forklift and powered truck violations are common in loading docks, storage areas, and recycling stations. Untrained operators, missing inspections, and poor traffic controls often lead to citations and safety risks.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors review operator certifications, three-year evaluations, and daily inspection checklists. They also review traffic flow, ventilation in battery charging areas, and pedestrian protection.

Quick Fixes

  • Certify all operators and track their three-year evaluations.
  • Attach daily inspection checklists to each truck and enforce completion before use.
  • Mark clear pedestrian walkways and forklift travel lanes.
  • Check ventilation in all areas where batteries are charged and stored.

#9 Violation— Eye & Face Protection (1926.102)

Why It Matters

Eye and face protection violations often occur during maintenance tasks involving grinding, cutting, or pressure washing. Inadequate or mismatched PPE increases the risk of eye injuries from debris, dust, or chemicals used in cleaning solutions — and exposes property teams to preventable liability.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors verify that workers use task-appropriate eye and face protection for activities such as grinding, cutting, or chemical application. They check that PPE meets ANSI Z87.1 standards and is properly maintained, and that additional protective measures—like face shields or splash-resistant goggles—are used when chemicals or high-impact hazards are present.

Quick Fixes

  • Create a task-based PPE matrix specifying protection for each task.
  • Inspect and test eyewash stations weekly.
  • Stock sealed goggles rated for chemicals and roof coatings.
  • Train employees to select proper PPE for each task type.

#10 Violation— Machine Guarding (1910.212)

Why It Matters

Machine guarding violations often stem from missing or removed guards on compactors, balers, and ventilation equipment. Exposed moving parts create serious hazards for maintenance staff and contractors.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors expect fixed guards on all moving parts that employees could contact during normal operations or maintenance. They also check that removable panels are lockable and properly secured after service.

Quick Fixes

  • Audit all machinery for missing guards or unsecured panels.
  • Install fixed or lockable guards on moving parts and belts.
  • Require contractor orientation before servicing mechanical equipment.
  • Document all maintenance safety inspections and corrections.

Protect Your Property from the Top OSHA Violations

The top OSHA violations tell a consistent story across every property: even confident teams can be caught off guard by inspectors who know exactly where to look. Over the next 90 days, focus on your highest-risk areas, including fall protection and training, ladders, lockout/tagout, powered industrial trucks, and hazard communication, and ensure your documentation demonstrates compliance.

The Valcourt Group specializes in rooftop fall protection, helping building owners and property teams achieve full compliance with OSHA and ANSI requirements. From assessments to engineered solutions, we turn complex safety obligations into clear, documented compliance. Contact us today to start your path to compliance.


Budgeting for Your Building: Investing in Rooftop Fall Protection

Proactive safety measures do more than comply with regulations—they safeguard lives. Maintenance teams and contractors depend on the safety systems that building owners and property managers implement. By prioritizing safety within your annual property budget, you protect people, reduce your liability, and make the most of your maintenance funds before they’re gone, ultimately enhancing your building’s operational stability.

Safeguarding Your Building by Prioritizing Safety Measures

Avoidable incidents, including the recent tragic loss of a business co-owner in Charlotte and the injury of a maintenance worker in Houston, highlight exactly how overlooking safety measures can result in devastating consequences.

As a building owner, it’s critical to understand that your duty to provide fall protection and adhere to OSHA’s General Duty Clause cannot be outsourced or delegated. For this reason, legal and ethical responsibilities for maintaining a safe environment free from recognizable hazards fall squarely on your shoulders. You can protect people by prioritizing safety, reducing liability, and enhancing your building’s operational stability.

Additionally, having proper fall protection systems in place, such as guardrails and anchorages, enhances safety and speeds up maintenance requests, providing quicker resolutions for tenants. For instance, an HVAC contractor can start work immediately when fall protection systems are already in place, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup and breakdown of equipment. Similarly, if there is a leak in the building, proper anchorage allows faster access and repair compared to using an aerial work platform, which requires more coordination and logistical challenges. By prioritizing safety, you protect people and reduce liability, streamline operations, and enhance your building’s overall efficiency.

The High Costs of Overlooking Safety Systems

The safety component is often overlooked or taken for granted when hiring a building service provider. It’s easy to assume the provider you hire is professional and skilled and that they bear the responsibility to operate safely. That’s only partly true. Safety is a burden that both the provider and the building owner share. 

Shared assurances are commonly required. The building owner must provide anchorage, load testing and certification of the anchorage. The maintenance technician is responsible for supplying proper equipment, ensuring trained staff, and implementing safe work plans. Failure to meet your obligations can lead to liabilities, higher costs, operational disruptions, and far worse. 

Let’s examine the financial implications of not complying with OSHA’s regulations. Here are the levels of fines for OSHA violations as of 2024:

  • Serious Violations: Up to $16,131 per violation.
  • Willful or Repeated Violations: Up to $161,323 per violation.
  • Failure to Abate Violations: Up to $16,131 per day beyond the abatement date.

Fall protection citations are among the most common citations handed out, and for good reason. Falls from heights remain the most frequent cause of workplace fatalities and injuries. On top of fines, with some reaching seven figures, property owners could also face lawsuits and civil judgments for neglecting fall protection responsibilities. For these reasons and moral obligations, it pays to keep fall protection as a non-negotiable for your annual budget. 

Maximizing Your Fall Protection Budget

A key aspect of creating a rooftop fall protection budget for your building is aligning closely with OSHA regulations. Since OSHA represents the minimum required standard for safety, the agency continues to increase efforts to reduce tragic and preventable falls from heights.

One example is OSHA’s recent National Emphasis Program aimed at raising awareness and reducing injuries and fatalities related to falls from heights. For these reasons, allocating annual budget funds toward safety systems and equipment ensures you remain compliant and that you, as the building owner, willfully took action to mitigate hazards. 

Here are our recommendations to maximize your fall protection budget. 

Rooftop Safety Audit: Starting the path toward rooftop safety and OSHA compliance begins with a clear understanding of your building’s current conditions. Our Rooftop Safety Audit provides that foundation by identifying potential fall hazards, evaluating risk areas, and outlining practical next steps. 

With roof-specific recommendations, visual documentation, and budget considerations by risk level, the audit helps building owners and managers make informed decisions about safety improvements. This structured approach ensures compliance gaps aren’t overlooked and supports a phased plan for addressing them. Whether you’re initiating a safety program or reassessing existing measures, the audit offers valuable insights to guide your efforts toward a safer rooftop environment.

Fall Protection Solutions: We tailor our approach to rooftop safety to meet your building’s unique needs. The goal is compliance, safe facade access, and coverage for all potential fall hazards. Awnclean provides you with a complete turnkey service from design to installation and certification. Examples include: 

  • Roof Hatch Guardrails— OSHA requires roof hatches to be protected on at least three sides by a guardrail and a self-closing gate. This way, no one can fall back down inside when the hatch is open.
  • Skylight Protection— Plastic and glass skylights must be protected. OSHA views all skylights as holes or openings where someone can fall through. A simple fix is a skylight cover or guardrails.
  • Guardrails— Any elevation change of 4 feet or more requires a guardrail or parapet wall that is 42 inches (± 3 inches) in height and able to withstand 200 pounds of force applied in a downward or outward direction. A counterweighted guardrail system can be an easy, permanent fix without adding roof penetrations. 
  • Ladders, stairs, and ramps— For rooftops with slopes or uneven surfaces due to architectural features, you may need to install stairs, ramps, or ladders to ensure safe access. If you have fixed ladders, whether inside or outside, leading to a roof hatch, OSHA regulations require specific safety measures to protect workers, especially at the upper levels of the ladder. These regulations include fall arrest systems and other safeguards to prevent falls from heights. 

Roof Anchorage Testing, Certifications, and Inspections

If you have a roof anchor system, now is a great time to plan for your annual anchorage inspection as part of your upcoming annual budget. By this point in the year, window cleaners have likely used the anchorage system multiple times, making regular inspection essential for continued safety and compliance. Keep in mind that certification and testing are required every ten years, and testing is recommended every five years for adhesive anchors. Proactively budgeting for these services ensures your building remains compliant and your rooftop work is performed safely.

Rooftop Anchor Installations

Awnclean and third-party engineers work together to review your rooftop and, if needed, develop and design a compliant and functional anchor layout. An added benefit of working with Awnclean is that our team of experts is well-versed in working on high-rise buildings as well as OSHA’s Rope Decent Systems (RDS) and scaffolding requirements. We will design a functional anchor layout and leverage our trusted third-party engineers to verify anchorage points and ensure structural stability. This step is crucial for meeting the certification requirements (due every ten years) per OSHA 1910.27, as our engineers physically test anchors via pull test while reviewing structural attachment and structural analysis of the anchorage design. 

This is a major safeguard with many components designed to allow for certifiable attachment points for workers to suspend ropes and safety lines. A Professional Engineer (P.E.) must examine the anchorage and structural attachment to your building to determine what can be considered a safe anchorage point. In some cases, structural elements like steel columns, concrete columns, or cooling tower supports can be evaluated for use as anchorage.

Leverage Awnclean’s Rooftop Fall Protection Expertise

As you can see, prioritizing safety in your annual maintenance budget provides peace of mind and delivers value in terms of increased speed of service, increased tenant satisfaction, avoiding fines, achieving compliance, and overall worker safety. When you overlook these items, you put yourself and those who work on your building at risk. 

Don’t leave safety to chance; take proactive steps to secure your building and protect those who work at heights. Contact Awnclean today to explore how we can help you achieve a safer, more secure environment for everyone involved.