Top 10 Cal/OSHA Citations of 2025 — And How to Avoid Them

Every year Cal/OSHA publishes its list of the most frequently cited standards. The 2025 list looks familiar — fall protection, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, and respiratory protection continue to dominate.

The good news: every one of these citations is preventable with a written program, documented training, and consistent supervisor follow-through.

1. Fall Protection (1926.501) — Make sure anyone working above 6 ft has a documented fall protection plan, anchor points, and trained users.

2. Hazard Communication (5194) — Your SDS library must be current, accessible, and tied to employee training that covers every hazardous chemical on site.

3. Respiratory Protection (5144) — Fit tests, medical evaluations, and a written program are required even for voluntary N95 use in some cases.

4. Lockout/Tagout (3314) — Energy control procedures must be machine-specific, not generic. Annual audits are required.

5. Scaffolding (1926.451) — Competent person inspections at the start of every shift are non-negotiable.

If you only fix three things this quarter, focus on these: written IIPP, current SDS library, and documented training records. Those three close the door on the majority of paperwork-driven citations.