OSHA violations not only cause businesses lost time and money, but they can also cost lives. For companies to avoid OSHA violations, it is necessary to know which are most common. Once a company knows which violations are most frequently cited, they can develop safety plans that actively address these violations. So, what are the most frequent OSHA violations that businesses need to prevent?
The Top Ten Most Cited OSHA Violations
Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
“The employer shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely. Employees shall be allowed to work on those surfaces only when the surfaces have the requisite strength and structural integrity.”
Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
“Ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are classified, and that information concerning the classified hazards is transmitted to employers and employees.”
Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451)
“Each scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it.
Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134)
“In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.”
Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147)
“This standard covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or startup of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy, could harm employees.”
Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053)
“Each self-supporting portable ladder: At least four times the maximum intended load, except that each extra-heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ladder shall sustain at least 3.3 times the maximum intended load. The ability of a ladder to sustain the loads indicated in this paragraph shall be determined by applying or transmitting the requisite load to the ladder in a downward vertical direction.”
Powered Industrial Trucks (CFR 1910.178)
“Safety requirements relating to fire protection, design, maintenance, and use of fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines.”
Machinery and Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212
“One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.”
Fall Protection-Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)
“The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.
Electrical, wiring methods, components, and equipment
“Metal raceways, cable trays, cable armor, cable sheath, enclosures, frames, fittings, and other metal noncurrent-carrying parts that are to serve as grounding conductors, with or without the use of supplementary equipment grounding conductors, shall be effectively bonded where necessary to ensure electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any fault current likely to be imposed on them.
** information directly from the OSHA regulations**
Planning to Avoid OSHA Violations
Preventing OSHA violations is a crucial responsibility for any company. The best way to avoid violations is to ensure your workplace is safe and in compliance with OSHA regulations. Moreover, safe workplaces start with excellent safety training programs. If your business needs to revise or enhance your safety training program, it’s best to consult an expert in safety training. At New Era HR Solutions, we are industry leaders in the creation of superior safety training programs that ensure OSHA compliance. Contact our manufacturing staffing specialists today to learn more!
