OSHA’s Top 10 Safety Violations of 2019
November 26, 2019
Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases a list of the top 10 safety violations for that fiscal year. The list does not usually change much from year to year, including the top three violations, which continue to be fall protection, hazard communication, and scaffolding. According to OSHA, the current data only reflects the violations that occurred through August 15, 2019, but the agency does not expect the order of the list to change after all the violations have been reported.
Following is a ranking of the most common safety violations for fiscal year 2019:
- Fall Protection: There were a total of 6,010 violations in 2019. The most frequent violations under the fall protection standard included failure to provide fall protection for unprotected edges and open sides in residential construction, as well as a failure to provide fall protection on low-slope roofs.
- Hazard Communication: There were a total of 3,671 violations in 2019. The most common violations included a failure to establish a written hazard communication program and a lack of employee access to safety data sheets.
- Scaffolding: There were a total of 2,606 scaffolding violations, the most frequent being improper access to surfaces and lack of guardrails.
- Lockout/Tagout: The lockout/tagout violations included those having to do with providing employee training and a failure to conduct regular inspections.
- Respiratory Protection: There were a total of 2,450 safety violations, which included a failure to establish a written respiratory protection program or provide appropriate medical evaluations.
- Ladders: The 2,345 total ladder violations generally included improper use of ladders, damaged ladders, and using the top step, which is strongly discouraged unless it is designed for that purpose.
- Powered Industrial Trucks: There were a total of 2,093 violations for 2019, including those related to providing employee training and refresher courses.
- Fall Protection Training: The 1,773 violations included a failure to properly train employees on how to identify fall hazards and the proper use of fall protection equipment.
- Machine Guarding: The 1,743 total violations included failure to guard points of operation.
- Eye and Face Protection: The 1,411 most frequent violations included failing to ensure employees use appropriate eye or face protection.
According to the president and CEO, this list brings attention to the number of injuries and fatalities that occur on the job. The OSHA Top 10 list is a valuable resource for understanding workplace safety and where improvements can be made.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Victims of Workplace Safety Violations
If you were injured on the job and your workplace has been cited for safety violations by OSHA, you are urged to contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. All employees are entitled to a safe work environment. We will walk you through the claims process and secure the maximum financial benefits you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online. Located in Baltimore, we serve clients throughout Maryland.
