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As the pandemic continues to spread rapidly around the world, so do the COVID-19 safety precautions intended to keep businesses, and their employees, safe. With the sudden rush of new onsite procedures, many companies have also found themselves with new OSHA violations they have never needed to think about before. Here are the top OSHA violations regarding COVID-19 onsite from your safety partners at STC:

Medical Evaluations and Fit Testing

The most frequently cited OSHA violations during COVID-19 inspections deal with respiratory protection, specifically the lack of medical evaluations and fit testing. Employers are required to provide an employee with a medical evaluation before fit testing them for a respirator. Each time a new respirator is used, the employee must be fit-check prior to using the respirator.

Respiratory Protection Program

The second most violated OSHA regulation dealing with COVID-19 is related to respiratory protection programs. Employers are required to establish, implement or update a respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. They must also provide workers with the mandatory information from Appendix D (Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard). Failure to comply will result in citations from OSHA.

Training OSHA Violations

Finally, the third most cited OSHA violations all deal with training and information. If an employer did not annually provide effective training and basic information as described in Appendix D, they may receive a citation. Employers are required to ensure that their employees are able to demonstrate knowledge of a wide variety of COVID-19 workplace safety topics. It is crucial that each employee is able to understand this information to practice it on the job.

If your company is like so many others that are struggling to stay up-to-date on the new OSHA regulations regarding COVID-19, STC is here to help you make it simple. We specialize in providing companies in a wide variety of industries with managed safety services, instructor-led trainings and safety consulting services. Want to learn more about how STC can help your business? Check out our blog today!

Photo Sourced from Getty Images: #1249808639

As anyone who follows OSHA standards knows, there are a ton of possible violations that can leave your business, and employees, at risk. At STC, we are dedicated to preserving human life by helping our clients find and eliminate OSHA violations before a fine or an injury occurs. Here are the top five most cited OSHA violations in the workplace during 2020 from STC:

1. Fall Protection, Construction

Accidental slips and falls are common in the construction industry and can cause significant injury or even death, especially at great heights. Keep your crew prepared for any accidental slips and falls by securing them with the proper equipment they need for safety on the job.

2. Hazard Communication Standard, General Industry

Chemical safety in the workplace is vital to keeping employees safe. In order to avoid any potentially dangerous interactions with hazardous chemicals, all hazardous chemicals must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, with additional training for workers.

3. Scaffolding, General Requirements, Construction

In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries reported 61 fatalities from scaffolds. Every fatality and injury resulting from improper scaffolding can be controlled by compliance with OSHA standards, potentially saving the lives of employees.

4. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), General Industry

Many forms of energy that are common in the workplace, such as hydraulic, electrical, thermal, chemical and many more, can be hazardous to workers if proper precautions are not taken. Proper lockout/tagout procedures can safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases.

5. Respiratory Protection, General Industry

Insufficient respiratory protection is another one of the OSHA violations that can cause permanent damage or death in certain situations. Harmful gases, dusts, smokes and vapors can cause cancers, diseases or death. Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could potentially prevent hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses each year.

Prevent OSHA Violations with STC

STC is dedicated to helping companies resolve these issues to protect the lives of their employees and keep operations running as smoothly as possible. From managed safety services to onsite safety staffing and instructor-led safety training, our team is here to protect yours. Want to learn more about how we can prevent OSHA violations? Check out our blog today!

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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.