OSHA’s national Top 10 list covers frequently cited standards across industries. It does not establish the ten most common violations in oil and gas extraction. This guide instead selects ten topics to review against the work performed at your site.
OSHA identifies well drilling and servicing as generally subject to general-industry standards, while activities such as site preparation and excavation can fall under construction standards. Determine the applicable rules before copying a checklist from another operation.
References checked October 7, 2026: OSHA national Top 10 and oil and gas extraction standards. A qualified safety professional should review applicability and the controls for your operation. This is not a complete compliance program.
Publisher disclosure: BasinCheck publishes this guide. It is an evaluation checklist, not an independent product test or a guarantee of compliance.
| # | Product | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall protection | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.28 |
| 2 | Hazard communication | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.1200 |
| 3 | Respiratory protection | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.134 |
| 4 | Control of hazardous energy | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.147 |
| 5 | Process safety management applicability | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.119 |
| 6 | Machine guarding | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.212 |
| 7 | Permit-required confined spaces | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.146 |
| 8 | Scaffolding | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1926.451 |
| 9 | Electrical equipment | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.303 |
| 10 | Eye and face protection | Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard | Official standard 1910.133 |
Fall protection
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.28
General industry and construction have different fall protection rules. General-industry unprotected sides and edges generally use a four-foot threshold under 1910.28, subject to its scope and exceptions. Construction requirements must be assessed separately. A universal six-foot rule is inaccurate for this article.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Do not apply one height threshold to every task.
Verdict: Identify the work activity and applicable standard before selecting fall protection.
Hazard communication
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.1200
Check the written hazard communication program, labels, safety data sheets and employee information and training required for the hazardous chemicals present. A software inventory is useful only if it reflects the chemicals and information workers actually encounter.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- A completed checklist does not establish that workers received the required information.
Verdict: Sample chemicals at the site and trace each to its label, SDS and training requirements.
Respiratory protection
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.134
Where respirator use is required, evaluate the applicable written program, selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, training and maintenance requirements. Required medical evaluation precedes fit testing or required use. Respiratory protection must follow a qualified assessment of the exposure.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Do not select a respirator solely from a software template or photograph.
Verdict: Have the responsible qualified people review the program and current worker records.
Try BasinCheck Free for 7 Days
Compare the features your crew needs before choosing a plan.
Start Free TrialControl of hazardous energy
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.147
Assess whether servicing and maintenance expose workers to unexpected start-up or stored energy. Review the applicable energy-control procedures, training and periodic inspections. An inspection record does not physically isolate equipment or verify that the isolation is effective.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Scope and exceptions matter; a generic lockout checklist is not a complete program.
Verdict: Trace one actual servicing task through the approved energy-control procedure.
Process safety management applicability
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.119
Determine whether the process is covered before applying PSM requirements. Section 1910.119(a)(2)(ii) excludes oil or gas well drilling or servicing operations. Other facilities and processes can fall within PSM when the relevant scope and threshold conditions are met.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- The drilling/servicing exclusion does not remove other OSHA obligations.
Verdict: Document the applicability assessment for the specific facility and process.
Machine guarding
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.212
Review guarding of points of operation, rotating parts, nip points and other machine hazards covered by the standard. Inspect the actual equipment and operating task; a previous inspection or an uploaded photo cannot establish that a guard is effective today.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Do not treat a signed inspection as permission to operate unsafe equipment.
Verdict: Check installed guards against the equipment and task hazards.
Permit-required confined spaces
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.146
Evaluate spaces, hazards and the applicable entry requirements. Where a permit-space program is required, address entry controls, training and rescue arrangements. A digital permit cannot replace atmospheric assessment, physical controls or a suitable rescue capability.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Construction confined-space rules require a separate applicability check.
Verdict: Review one actual space and the complete approved entry and rescue process.
Scaffolding
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1926.451
For covered construction work, review the scaffold requirements and competent-person inspections before each work shift and after events that could affect structural integrity. Oilfield work is not automatically construction; establish the activity and applicable rules first.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- Do not present this construction standard as universal for all well-servicing work.
Verdict: Confirm the competent person, inspection timing and response to identified defects.
Electrical equipment
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.303
Review approved equipment, installation and protection of energized parts under the applicable electrical standards. The requirements depend on the equipment, exposure and work location. Have qualified people assess electrical hazards and the controls needed for the task.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- A general checklist does not establish suitability for a hazardous classified location.
Verdict: Identify equipment condition and any need for a more specific electrical standard.
Eye and face protection
OSHA applicability and field-control review
Best For
Reviewing the specific task and applicable standard
Pricing
Official standard 1910.133
Select suitable eye and face protection for the hazards present, including flying particles, chemicals or injurious light radiation where applicable. Check suitability, fit and the requirements affecting workers who use prescription lenses.
Key Features
Pros
- Use the current official standard as the reference
Limitations and checks
- One type of safety glasses is not necessarily adequate for every task.
Verdict: Review the actual exposure and inspect the selected protective equipment.
Side-by-side feature comparison
Scroll horizontally to compare every column. Capabilities are vendor-documented; confirm the selected plan in a pilot.
| Software | Reference | Review focus | Applicability check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall protection | 1910.28 | Identify the work activity and applicable standard before selecting fall protection. | Do not apply one height threshold to every task. |
| Hazard communication | 1910.1200 | Sample chemicals at the site and trace each to its label, SDS and training requirements. | A completed checklist does not establish that workers received the required information. |
| Respiratory protection | 1910.134 | Have the responsible qualified people review the program and current worker records. | Do not select a respirator solely from a software template or photograph. |
| Control of hazardous energy | 1910.147 | Trace one actual servicing task through the approved energy-control procedure. | Scope and exceptions matter; a generic lockout checklist is not a complete program. |
| Process safety management applicability | 1910.119 | Document the applicability assessment for the specific facility and process. | The drilling/servicing exclusion does not remove other OSHA obligations. |
| Machine guarding | 1910.212 | Check installed guards against the equipment and task hazards. | Do not treat a signed inspection as permission to operate unsafe equipment. |
| Permit-required confined spaces | 1910.146 | Review one actual space and the complete approved entry and rescue process. | Construction confined-space rules require a separate applicability check. |
| Scaffolding | 1926.451 | Confirm the competent person, inspection timing and response to identified defects. | Do not present this construction standard as universal for all well-servicing work. |
| Electrical equipment | 1910.303 | Identify equipment condition and any need for a more specific electrical standard. | A general checklist does not establish suitability for a hazardous classified location. |
| Eye and face protection | 1910.133 | Review the actual exposure and inspect the selected protective equipment. | One type of safety glasses is not necessarily adequate for every task. |
How we evaluated these tools
This is an editorial selection of safety topics, reviewed against the linked OSHA standards on October 7, 2026. The numbering is for navigation; it is not a ranking by industry citation count, severity or fatality frequency. No oil-and-gas-specific citation dataset was used to rank these topics.
National citation counts, old penalty amounts and unsupported accident statistics have been omitted. Consult OSHA’s current penalty information where needed; a software subscription cannot be justified as a guaranteed avoided fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the ten most cited oil and gas violations?
No. This is a selected review checklist. OSHA’s national Top 10 covers multiple industries and should not be presented as an oil-and-gas-specific ranking.
Does OSHA always require fall protection at six feet?
No. The applicable standard depends on the activity and exposure. General-industry unprotected sides and edges generally use four feet under 1910.28, with scope conditions and exceptions. Assess construction work under its applicable standards.
Does PSM apply to all oil and gas work?
No. Section 1910.119 has coverage conditions and exclusions, including oil or gas well drilling or servicing operations. Assess the specific process; the exclusion does not remove other OSHA requirements.
Can BasinCheck make our operation OSHA compliant?
No software can guarantee that. BasinCheck can support field records and follow-up, but applicability decisions, hazard controls, training and safe execution remain the employer’s responsibility.
Final verdict
Start with the hazards, applicable rules and controls at the site. Keep inspection evidence and corrective actions where responsible people can retrieve them, and verify that findings were resolved. BasinCheck can support that recordkeeping and follow-up; it does not replace qualified assessment or physical risk controls.