At the end of fiscal year 2017, OSHA released its annual Top 10 list of most frequently cited violations. Many of the violations remain the same from previous years with one new entry emerging – Fall Protection Training Requirements. The monetary penalties associated with these violations ranged from thousands to millions of dollars and affect a wide range of different industries. Read below to learn more about each of these 10 infractions.
OSHA’s Top 10 Violations

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements

  • Employees need protection 6 feet or above lower levels.

2. Hazard Communication

  • Employers must have a written hazard communication plan.

3. Scaffolding

  • Employees need protection on scaffolds 10 feet above lower levels.

4. Respiratory Protection

  • Employers must provide medical evaluations to determine employees’ ability to use respirators before use.

5. Lockout / Tagout

  • Procedures must be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy.

6. Ladders

  • Ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.

7. Powered Industrial Trucks

  • Employers must ensure that truck operators are competent to operate powered industrial vehicles safely.

8. Machine Guarding

  • Machine guarding must be provided to protect operators and employees from rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.

9. Fall Protection – General Requirements

  • Employers must provide a training program for each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards.

10. Electrical – Wiring Methods

  • Flexible cords may be used only in continuous lengths without splices or taps.

 

OSHA Top 10 Violations Link

At STC, we are focused on preserving the word’s most precious resource – human life. In order to do that, we understand employers’ need for developing policies, programs and procedures to alleviate safety risks and pain points.

As your company prepares for 2018, please reach out to us by responding to this email to learn more about how we can assist your organization in implementing a Safety Management System that proactively addresses all hazards within your working environment to keep your people safe and prevent OSHA violations that incur direct and indirect costs against your business.