Section 5(a)(1) General Duty Clause: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires every employer to furnish employees a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA uses it when no specific standard addresses a hazard, such as workplace violence, heat stress, or certain ergonomic and combustible dust hazards. A citation requires showing the hazard was recognized and that a feasible means of abatement existed.
What the standard requires
- Identify recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm
- Implement feasible measures to eliminate or reduce those hazards
- Address hazards even where no specific OSHA standard applies
- Follow industry practice and manufacturer guidance for known risks
Hazards it addresses
- Heat illness
- Workplace violence
- Combustible dust explosions
- Musculoskeletal disorders
Cited across industries, notably healthcare, warehousing, agriculture, and outdoor work involving heat exposure.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Penalties
Across 563 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $5,722,876 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $4,588,102, 20% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 90%; Other-than-serious 9%; Repeat 1%; Willful 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 51 | 51 | $461,696 | $340,988 |
| Pennsylvania | 50 | 52 | $607,779 | $531,296 |
| Texas | 49 | 52 | $814,275 | $681,901 |
| California | 38 | 38 | $49,780 | $44,405 |
| Massachusetts | 38 | 40 | $108,641 | $62,201 |
| New York | 35 | 35 | $635,414 | $480,160 |
| Wisconsin | 27 | 29 | $306,713 | $225,158 |
| New Jersey | 26 | 26 | $229,764 | $195,604 |
| Ohio | 26 | 27 | $232,993 | $141,354 |
| Georgia | 22 | 22 | $180,505 | $142,471 |
| Colorado | 18 | 21 | $221,883 | $205,380 |
| New Mexico | 18 | 19 | $252,207 | $247,051 |
| Alabama | 13 | 13 | $133,100 | $116,562 |
| Connecticut | 13 | 13 | $169,998 | $103,711 |
| Illinois | 13 | 13 | $137,417 | $97,823 |
| North Dakota | 12 | 12 | $229,966 | $204,194 |
| Missouri | 9 | 9 | $100,624 | $79,357 |
| Oklahoma | 9 | 9 | $123,371 | $108,542 |
| Delaware | 8 | 8 | $81,758 | $71,775 |
| Idaho | 8 | 8 | $85,264 | $59,498 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 149 inspections
- Construction: 107 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 48 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 43 inspections
- Other services: 42 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 39 inspections
- Retail trade: 30 inspections
- Mining, oil & gas: 20 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Foods Corporation | Ripon, WI | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $12,059 | $12,059 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Sociedad Textil Lonia Corp. | San Francisco, CA | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $560 | $560 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 22, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Western Marine Construction | Ketchikan, AK | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $7,878 | $5,515 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| SA Recycling LLC | Canton, OH | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $9,930 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Fence Direct Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,362 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Triple AD Enterprises, LLC | Fort Worth, TX | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | OpenAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Earl T. Wadhams, Inc. | Rensselaer, NY | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $11,823 | $11,823 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Speedie Auto Salvage, Ltd. | Dover, OH | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $3,547 | OpenAbatement due Sep 15, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| East Coast Stairs Company, Inc. | South Windsor, CT | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,419 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Waste Connections, Inc. | Randolph, NJ | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | OpenAbatement due Sep 22, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Lipman-Colorado, LLC | Frederick, CO | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $9,045 | $9,045 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| KGK Farms, LLC | Homestead, FL | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | OpenAbatement due Oct 9, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Well Werks Energy LLC | Hinton, OK | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Informal settlementAbatement due Dec 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Terranetti Italian Bakery, Inc. | Mechanicsburg, PA | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Gulf Coast Coil Tubing & Nitrogen Services, Inc. | Belle Rose, LA | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $3,547 | OpenAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| C a Design Inc. | Exeter, NH | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $3,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Gulf Energy Storage Services, Inc. | Belle Rose, LA | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $11,823 | $11,823 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Baywater Drilling LLC | Aztec, NM | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $10,115 | $10,115 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 10, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Bass Environmental, LLC | Campbell, OH | Aug 19, 2026 | 2 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Albertsons, LLC | Alpine, CA | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $635 | $635 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 10, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Corelle Brands, LLC | Corning, NY | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $165,514 | $82,757 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Fusion Coatings, Inc. | Robesonia, PA | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $3,376 | $2,532 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Salem Department of Park, Recreation, and Community Services | Salem, MA | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| ED the Treeman, LLC | Burlington, CT | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,618 | $2,533 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| VI Waste Management Authority | Frederiksted, VI | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Nov 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Joe Krentzman & Son, Inc. | Hollidaysburg, PA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Inc. | Paris, IL | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Supreme Meats Inc. | Saint Francis, WI | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $9,045 | $6,331 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| C & C Asphalt Sealing & Stripping, Inc. | Fort Payne, AL | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $9,268 | $4,634 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Northwest Pipe Fittings Inc. | Great Falls, MT | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $8,682 | $4,341 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Malach USA, LLP | Valley City, ND | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $8,276 | $4,966 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Seatex, LLC | Rosenberg, TX | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $8,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Nunez Enterprises, LLC | Fortuna, MO | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $11,585 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 4, 2026Contested Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| SMD Venture Inc. | Montebello, CA | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $5,850 | $5,850 | OpenAbatement due Aug 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 1, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Solvix Auto 3031 LLC | Dayton, OH | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $4,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC | Cranston, RI | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $8,110 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ipmf LLC | Janesville, WI | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $14,067 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Steel Suppliers Erectors, Inc. | Wilmington, DE | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $4,634 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Ipmf LLC | Janesville, WI | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $14,067 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester, MA | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.178 Forklifts (77 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (67 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (45 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (44 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (41 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (35 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (33 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (30 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard Section 5(a)(1) require?
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires every employer to furnish employees a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA uses it when no specific standard addresses a hazard, such as workplace violence, heat stress, or certain ergonomic and combustible dust hazards. A citation requires showing the hazard was recognized and that a feasible means of abatement existed.
How often was Section 5(a)(1) cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, Section 5(a)(1) (General Duty Clause) appeared in 546 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 563 alleged violation items.
Which states cite Section 5(a)(1) most often?
The most citations under Section 5(a)(1) in this period were issued in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas.
What is the typical penalty for a Section 5(a)(1) violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $8,513; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $5,793. Totals: $5,722,876 proposed, $4,588,102 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are Section 5(a)(1) citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 23% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.