What is an OSHA citation?

“If, upon inspection or investigation, the Secretary or his authorized representative believes that an employer has violated a requirement of section 654 of this title, of any standard, rule or order promulgated pursuant to section 655 of this title, or of any regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, he shall with reasonable promptness issue a citation to the employer. Each citation shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the provision of the chapter, standard, rule, regulation, or order alleged to have been violated. In addition, the citation shall fix a reasonable time for the abatement of the violation.”

“Every citation shall state that the issuance of a citation does not constitute a finding that a violation of the Act has occurred unless there is a failure to contest as provided for in the Act or, if contested, unless the citation is affirmed by the Review Commission.”

• 29 U.S.C. 658, Citations 3 paragraphs use the term.
• 29 U.S.C. 659, Enforcement procedures 3 paragraphs use the term.
• 29 CFR 1903.14 6 paragraphs use the term.
• 29 CFR 1903.15, Proposed penalties One paragraph uses the term.
• 29 CFR 1903.19, Abatement verification 24 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.

• Abatement Action by an employer to comply with a cited standard or regulation or to eliminate a recognized hazard OSHA identified.
• Notice of contest An employer's written notice that it will contest a citation or proposed penalty, postmarked within 15 working days.
• Serious violation A violation with a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, unless the employer could not have known of it.
• De minimis violation A violation with no direct or immediate relationship to safety or health, for which OSHA may issue a notice instead of a citation.
• Failure to abate Failing to correct a cited violation within the period permitted, which can be penalized for each day it continues.
• Employer A person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees. The federal government and state and local governments are excluded.
• General Duty Clause Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requiring employment free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
• Imminent danger Conditions that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before ordinary enforcement can remove them.
• Other-than-serious violation A violation of the OSH Act, a standard or a regulation that is specifically determined not to be of a serious nature.
• Willful and repeat violations The violation categories with the highest civil penalty limit, for employers who willfully or repeatedly violate the OSH Act.

All terms in the OSHA glossary

1. 29 U.S.C. 658, Citations. U.S. Code, 2024 edition, current through January 6, 2025, from govinfo.gov.
2. 29 CFR 1903.14. eCFR, text as of October 27, 2026.

Written by Cairn, updated October 29, 2026. The quoted text is copied from the sources above. A test compares each quotation with a stored copy of the source, and a separate script compares that copy with the live sources. This page explains the law and is not legal advice.