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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced their top 10 list for the most frequently cited workplace-safety violations for FY 2013. The number one most cited violation was fall protection.

There has been a significant increase in the total number of violations from FY 2012 to FY 2013. 

The complete top 10 list of most frequently cited workplace-safety violations for 2013 follows:

1. Fall Protection: 8,241 violations

• Covering holes

• Protection of open sides and edges

• Preventing falls from roofs

2. Hazard Communication: 6,156 violations

• No written program

• Provide adequate employee education and training

• Properly label containers / lack of any label

• Access to material-safety data sheets

3. Scaffolding: 5,423 violations

• Problems with scaffold construction

• Improper access to scaffolding surfaces

• Lack of guardrails

4. Respiratory Protection: 3,879 violations

• No written respiratory-protection program

• Poor fit-test procedures

• Unsuitable respirator-selection process

• Procedures to voluntarily use respirators

SEE: OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for 2014

5. Electrical (wiring): 3,452 violations

• Flexible cords and cables

• Boxes and temporary wiring

• improper use of extension cords

• Use of temporary wiring as permanent wiring

6. Powered Industrial Trucks: 3,340 violations

• Inadequate operator training

• Inadequate refresher training

• Condition of trucks when returned to service after repair

7. Ladders: 3,311 violations

• Damaged side rails

• Using top ladder step

• Ladder not suitable for the job

• Excessive loads on ladders

8. Lockout / Tagout: 3,254 violations

• Poor or no energy-control procedures

• Inadequate worker training

• Incomplete inspections

9. Electrical (general): 2,745 violations

• Electric shock

• Electrocution exposures

10. Machine Guarding: 2,701 violations

• Point-of-operation exposures

• Inadequate or no anchoring of fixed machinery

• Exposure to blades