How To Avoid Top 10 OSHA Violations in 2017

Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs who presented OSHA’s top 10 list of most frequently cited violations for 2017 at the National Safety Congress and Expo last month, said “The OSHA Top 10 is more than just a list, it is a blueprint for keeping workers safe. When we all work together to address hazards, we can do the best job possible to ensure employees go home safely each day.”

• Fall Protection, Construction 29 CFR 1926.501: This standard specifies where fall protection is required as well as the proper installation of safety systems to prevent falls in Construction and General Industry.

• Hazard Communication, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.1200: OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires development and distribution of information for employees regarding the hazards of chemicals used in the workplace, in the form of labels and safety data sheets (SDS), as well as adequate training for employees to thoroughly understand hazard chemical exposure risks.

• Scaffolds, Construction 29 CFR 1926.451: This standard outlines the requirement for implementing and accessing scaffolds in Construction.

• Respiratory Protection, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.134: This standard addresses preventing occupational diseases caused by atmospheric contamination such as harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, gases, smokes and sprays.

• Lockout/Tagout, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.147: Companies were mostly given citations for improperly training employees on lockout/tagout procedures, not having a lockout/tagout procedure in place or lacking periodic inspections of existing procedure.

• Ladders, Construction 29 CFR 1926.1053: Hazards in this category are mostly associated with improper use of portable ladders in Construction, likely due to inadequate training.

• Powered Industrial Trucks, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.178: These standard addresses safety requirements relating to operation of powered industrial trucks, commonly called forklifts or lift trucks.

• Machine Guarding, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.212: Moving machine parts could cause severe injuries such as crushed fingers, hands, amputations, burns, or blindness, hence necessary safeguards and safety training are required to eliminate these various hazards.

• Fall Protection – Training Requirements Construction 29 CFR 1910.503: Making the list for the first time, this standard has several common violations including failure to train workers in identifying fall hazards and correct use of fall protection equipment.

• Electrical Wiring, General Industry 29 CFR 1910.305: Citations are commonly issued for unsafe substitutes for permanent wiring and incorrect use of extension cords

To avoid these 10 OSHA violations, equip yourself and your employees with the right safety and health training. Click to learn more!