The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently unveiled its top 10 most frequently cited violations. The agency reports the leading causes of workplace injuries during its fiscal year (October through the following September). For specific standards, see their report.
The 2016 top 10 most frequently cited standards are as follows.
1. Fall Protection: 6,929 citations
Falls from ladders and roofs still account for the majority of injuries at work. Identifying fall hazards and deciding how to best protect workers is the first step in eliminating or reducing fall hazards. Safety measures may include—but are not limited to—guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall protection systems in conjunction with safe work practices and training.
2. Hazard Communication: 5,677 citations
In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information must be available about the identities and hazards of all chemicals in use. OSHA standard 1910.1200 governs hazard communication to workers about chemical, both produced or imported into the workplace. Both the failure to develop and maintain a proper written training program for employees, as well as the failure to provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous chemical, top the citation list.
The 2016 top 10 list of most frequently cited standards did not change significantly from 2015, with fall protection violations remaining at the top of the list. In fact, the top seven most cited violations remained the same.
3. Scaffolding: 3,906 citations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the vast majority of scaffold accidents arise from the planking/support of the scaffold giving way. Alternatively, employees may slip or get struck by falling objects. Employers can control the dangers associated with scaffold use by strictly enforcing OSHA standards.
4. Respiratory Protection: 3,585 citations
Standard 1910.134 provides employers with guidance in establishing and maintaining a respiratory inspection program for program administration, worksite-specific procedures and respirator use. Respirators protect workers from oxygen-deficient environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. These hazards could cause cancer, lung impairment and other diseases or death.
5. Lockout/Tagout: 3,414 citations
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) refers to specific practices and procedures that safeguard employees from the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during service and maintenance activities. Workers who service mechanical and electrical equipment face the greatest risk of injury if LOTO is not properly implemented. Workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation.
6. Powered Industrial Trucks: 2,860 citations
Each year, tens of thousands of injuries related to powered industrial trucks (particularly forklifts) occur. Many employees are injured when one drives a lift truck off of a loading dock or when they fall between docks and unsecured trailers. Other common injuries involve employees being struck by lift trucks or falling from elevated pallets and tines. Most incidents also involve property damage, including damage to overhead sprinklers, racking, pipes, walls and machinery.
7. Ladders: 2,639 citations
These types of violations typically occur when employees use ladders for purposes other than those designated by the manufacturer—such as stepping on the top step of the ladder, not using the ladder on a stable and level surface, or not withdrawing defective ladders from service. Most employee injuries arise from inadequate training and a disregard for safe operating procedures.
8. Machine Guarding: 2,451 citations
When left exposed, moving machine parts have the potential to cause serious workplace injuries such as amputations, burns, blindness and crushed fingers or hands. The risk of employee injury is substantially reduced by installing and maintaining the proper machine guarding.
9. Electrical—Wiring Methods: 1,940 citations
OSHA has long recognized electricity as a serious workplace hazard. The OSHA electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires and explosions. The electrical wiring violations that top the electrical citation list include the failure to install and use electrical equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions, failure to guard electrical equipment, failure to identify disconnecting means or circuits, and not keeping workspaces clear.
10. Electrical—General Requirements: 1,704 citations
This standard contains many guidelines for proper installation of all electrical components at a worksite and their safe maintainence. The standard also outlines the amount of clear space needed around electrical equipment.
S.S. Nesbitt & Co., Inc.: Your Compliance Partner
How can you ensure that your business is working within the guidelines of OSHA standards? Are you maintaining your programs and training workers on a regular basis? Are you confident in your OSHA record-keeping abilities?
We can assist you in conducting a full OSHA program audit as well as help you develop or review your programs to ensure they meet regulation and recordkeeping requirements. Contact us today at (205) 262-2700 to help take the stress out of OSHA compliance.
This information is abstracted from Zywave’s “Risk Insights: 2016 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards” article.