OSHA’s Top 10 Violations in 2017

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created to regulate rules and policies pertaining to the safety and wellbeing of the American workforce. In their effort to protect, they come across thousands of violations every year. Some violations are minor some are more substantial. However, all are violations and bring with them corresponding repercussions. Every year, OSHA releases its top 10 violations cited in an effort to keep the public informed. This year, the list includes a new addition – Fall Protection – Training Requirements.

Top 10 Violations:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements – 6,072
2. Hazard Communication – 4,176
3. Scaffolding – 3,288
4. Respirator Protection – 3, 097
5. Lockout/Tagout – 2,877
6. Ladders – 2,241
7. Powered Industrial Trucks – 2,162
8. Machine Guarding – 1,933
9. Fall Protection – Training Requirements – 1,523
10. Electrical – Wiring Methods -1,405

OSHA Policies

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements

OSHA requires every employer to make sure that working conditions are without any known dangers. Floors in work areas must be in a clean and sanitary condition. There should be personal protective equipment provided for every worker at no cost to them. Workers must be made aware of and trained on the hazards in their work and communicated in the language they understand.

2. Hazard Communication

Employers whose line of business involved chemical manufacturing or importing are required to conduct an evaluation of the chemicals. Safety data sheets and labels must be properly prepared, making all the hazardous information available to the workers and downstream customers.

3. Scaffolding

The safety requirements of scaffolds in construction include:

• Scaffold and scaffolding components must be able to support at least 4 times the maximum intended load as well as its own weight.
• Suspension rope and connecting hardware must be able to support at least 6 times the maximum intended load for both adjustable and non-adjustable suspension scaffolds.
• That the construction and loading of scaffolds must follow with the design created by a qualified person.
• That scaffold components manufactured by different companies must not be forced to fit and not intermixed, otherwise fitting together and integrity is maintained.

4. Respirator Protection

Employers are required to provide each worker with a respirator or other sufficient forms of respiratory protection if their duties put them at respiratory risk.

5. Lockout/Tagout

The standard procedure of lockout/tagout applies to workers or situations when equipment used may cause unexpected startup, energization or release of stored energy and causing injury to the employees. Basically, if the equipment has moving parts that could potentially move unexpectedly.

The policies covering lockout/tagout indicates the need of complete control when there is exposure to hazardous energy. Equipment must be unplugged from the electric outlet and there is exclusive control of the plug. The proper procedure must be followed including the use of special equipment for the employee’s protection.

6. Ladders

Different policies on various kinds of ladders were created to better describe the proper use of ladders and assure the protection of employees using it. Self-supporting and not-self-supporting portable ladders must be able to withstand at least 4 times its intended maximum load.

7. Powered Industrial Trucks

Powered industrial trucks may include fork lifts, motorized hand trucks, platform lifts, tractors and other specialized industrial trucks powered by electric motors or combustion engines.

New powered industrial trucks must meet the design and construction requirements. Trucks must be tested and bearing the label or identifying mark indicating the approval of the testing laboratory. Customers are not to perform any modifications or additions affecting the capacity and safety of the operation without any prior written approval by the manufacturer.

8. Machine Guarding

One of more methods of machine guarding must be established and maintained to protect operators and employees within the machine area in the event of hazardous situations such as sparks, ingoing nip points and flying chips. Guards must be affixed to the machine and must also not present an additional hazard itself.

9. Fall Protection – Training Requirements

OSHA requires employers to provide training program on fall hazards especially to employees who might be exposed to them. Training of the procedures must include the nature of the fall hazards, the proper procedure in erecting, disassembling and inspecting of the fall protection system, the role of employees in the safety monitoring system, the limitations of the use of the mechanical equipment and the operation or the guardrail systems , safety net systems, warning line systems and controlled access zones.

10. Electrical – Wiring Methods

The general requirements of electrical wiring methods include the need to effectively bond the grounding conductors such as cable sheath, cable armor, metal raceways, frames and fittings to ensure that there is electrical continuity and with the capacity to safely conduct any fault current. Coatings such as enamels and other nonconductive paints must be removed at threads or be connected by fittings designed to remove them. No wirings must be installed in ducts where dust, flammable vapors and loose stock are transported. There must be no wiring systems installed even on ducts used for vapor removal of ventilation of commercial-type cooking equipment.