Another year of OSHA’s top 10 most sited frequently cited workplace violations.
Do you see anything similar from years past?
How about Fall Protection General Requirements?
This has made the number one spot for 12 years running followed by Respiratory Protection and Hazardous Communication.
Why do you suppose that is?
From a safety professional’s point of view, this data is troubling and makes us scratch our heads wondering how we can begin to turn this trend around. Complying with OSHA standards helps you keep workers safe and avoid costly fines. The annual OSHA Top 10 list reminds us that we must continue to improve so we can make workplace safety better now and for future generations.
So, ask yourself these questions:
• Are we doing enough training and doing it consistently?
• Are we inspecting what we expect in our safety programs and employees?
• Are we providing the proper PPE needed to perform the tasks at hand?
• Do we have the support needed from the top down in our organizations?
• Are we simply too busy to effectively reduce or eliminate worker injuries?
In my many years in safety I have found some, or all of these situations, to be true at some point. So, what can be done to make sure we continue to work towards ending all the violations on the OSHA top 10 list and protecting every employee on the job?
There are an abundance of resources out there to help you accomplish your safety needs. Reach out to onsite safety trainers, utilize cloud based safety management software, and consult with your product specialists to make sure your employees never become a statistic in the OSHA Top 10.
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,260 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,424 violations
3. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,185 violations
4. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,143 violations
5. Scaffolding (1926.451): 2,058 violations
6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,977 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,749 violations
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,556 violations
9. Personal and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,401 violations
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,370 violations
This article supplied by Mike Kay, Director of Resource Safety Services. View our other blog posts related to Safety Culture.