Sure, OSHA has been more “business-friendly” in the last eight years. But it hasn’t been a paper tiger. New statistics on the agency’s citations and penalties for fiscal year 2008 show just the opposite. And with a new administration in January, OSHA is set to issue even more fines.

What’s tripping up companies when OSHA inspectors visit?

These are the top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2008 (Oct. 2007 through Sept. 2008):

1. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) [related topic page]
2. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501) [related topics page]
3. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) [related topic page]
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) [related topic page]
5. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) [related topic page]
6. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305) [related topic page]
7. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) [related topic page]
8. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) [related topic page]
9. Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212) [related topics page]
10. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303) [related topic page]

OSHA assessed the highest penalties for these standards in fiscal year 2008 (October 2007 through September 2008):

1. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501) [related topics page]
2. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) [related topic page]
3. Electrical, hazardous (classified) locations (29 CFR 1910.307) [related topic page]
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) [related topic page]
5. Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction (29 CFR 1926.652) [related topics page]
6. Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212) [related topics page]
7. General duty clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act)
8. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) [related topic page]
9. Walking-working surfaces, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.22) [related topic page]
10. Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals (29 CFR 1910.119) [related topic page]

This information is for all types of industries combined in states where federal OSHA conducts safety inspections. You can search for most frequently cited violations in your industry or a state that has its own OSHA program here.