OSHA Enforcement Report, October 2026: The Rules That Cost Employers the Most
Every month we count what OSHA cited in the last 12 months. We use the public enforcement data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This first report covers the 12 months up to October 16, 2026. Most of the money comes from a handful of rules. The biggest one is fall protection.
The big numbers
- 60,995 inspections in the last 12 months.
- 79,425 citations.
- $188.3 million in current penalties. That is what is still owed after any reductions so far.
- 2,385 inspections found repeat or willful violations. Those carry the highest fines.
OSHA’s top fine right now is $16,550 for each serious violation. It is $165,514 for each willful or repeated one.
The 10 rules OSHA cited most
| Rule | What it covers | Citations | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.1200 | Hazard communication (chemical labels, SDS) | 6,559 | $6.46M |
| 1926.501 | Fall protection in construction | 5,831 | $31.69M |
| 1910.147 | Lockout/tagout | 3,892 | $18.39M |
| 1910.134 | Respiratory protection | 3,768 | $6.40M |
| 1926.1053 | Ladders in construction | 2,566 | $7.41M |
| 1926.451 | Scaffolds | 2,517 | $7.75M |
| 1910.178 | Forklifts | 2,512 | $6.57M |
| 1910.303 | Electrical, general industry | 2,390 | $3.56M |
| 1926.503 | Fall protection training | 2,291 | $3.68M |
| 1910.212 | Machine guarding | 2,089 | $11.89M |
Cited for falls? Fall protection drew $31.7 million in penalties, more than any other rule. Train your crew with our Fall Protection for Competent Persons course. It is part of The Dojo, our full course library.
Where the money is
Hazard communication is cited the most. But it is not where the big fines land. Three rules drew over $10 million each:
- Fall protection (1926.501): $31.7 million.
- Lockout/tagout (1910.147): $18.4 million. Machines that start up during repairs.
- Machine guarding (1910.212): $11.9 million. Missing guards on moving parts.
Chart: Black Belt Safety, from U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement data
Who gets inspected
- Construction: 10,127 cited companies. Falls, ladders and scaffolds top the list.
- Small sites: 12,263 inspections were at workplaces with 1 to 9 workers. Small does not mean safe from a visit.
- After an incident or complaint: 29,964 inspections started because of an accident, a complaint or a referral.
What to do this month
- Check your crew’s training records against the top three rules: falls, lockout/tagout and hazard communication.
- Read the free plain-language guide for each rule in our OSHA standards library.
- Train the whole crew at once. See team training or join The Dojo.
About this data
These numbers come from public U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, copied nightly. OSHA can issue citations up to six months after an inspection, so the newest months always look low. Penalties change when cases settle. Look up any single inspection at osha.gov before you rely on it. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor. This is a plain-language summary, and the official records are what count.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor Open Data Portal (OSHA enforcement data) – U.S. Department of Labor, checked 2026-10-16; figures from Black Belt Safety’s nightly copy, 12 months to 2026-10-16
- OSHA Penalties – Occupational Safety and Health Administration, checked 2026-10-16
Frequently asked questions
What OSHA standard was cited most in the last 12 months?
Hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200), with 6,559 citations in the 12 months to October 16, 2026. Which OSHA rule drew the highest penalties? Fall protection in construction (29 CFR 1926.501), with $31.7 million in current penalties. What is the maximum OSHA fine? OSHA lists $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 per willful or repeated violation. Why do the newest months show fewer citations? OSHA can issue citations up to six months after an inspection, so the newest months always look low.