OSHA’s Annual “Top 10” are the Same 10

Every year, at the end of the federal government’s fiscal year, OSHA releases their top ten violations. Even though the list doesn’t change very often, if at all, it’s always a good reminder as we head into the new year on what you can do at your organization to not become a part of the “Top 10” statistic. This year’s Top 10 is the same as last year’s – and for the ninth year in a row, Fall Protection is the number one violation.

Here’s the entire list and quick description along with the most common violations and violators:

1. Fall protection (construction)—general requirements (29 CFR 1926.501): common violations under this standard included failure to provide fall protection near unprotected sides or edges and on both low-slope and steep roofs. Many of the citations were issued to roofing contractors, framing contractors, masonry contractors, and new single-family housing construction contractors (6,010 violations)

2. Hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200): common failings included lack of a written program, inadequate training, and failing to properly develop or maintain safety data sheets (SDSs); auto repair facilities and painting contractors were among the top industries to receive hazard communication citations (3,671 violations)

3. Scaffolds (construction)—general requirements (29 CFR 1926.451): common violations included improper decking, failing to provide guardrails where required, and failure to ensure that supported scaffolds are adequately supported on a solid foundation; masonry, siding, roofing, and framing contractors are the most often cited for scaffolding violations (2,813 violations)

4. Lockout/tagout (29 CFR 1910.147): common deficiencies included failure to establish an energy control procedure altogether and failure to provide adequate employee training, conduct periodic evaluations of procedures, or use lockout/tagout devices or equipment; main culprits for these types of violations were plastics manufacturers, machine shops, and sawmills (2,606 violations)

5. Respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134): most frequently cited issues included failing to establish a program, failing to perform required fit testing, and failing to provide medical evaluations; auto body refinishing, masonry contractors, painting contractors, and wall covering contractors received many citations under this standard (2,450 violations)

6. Ladders (construction) (29 CFR 1926.1053): common violations included failure to have siderails extend 3 feet (ft) beyond a landing surface, using ladders for unintended purposes, using the top step of a stepladder, and using ladders with structural defects; these violations were common among roofing, framing, siding, and painting contractors (2,345 violations)

7. Powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178): commonly cited issues included deficient or damaged forklifts that were not removed from service, failing to safely operate a forklift, failing to retain certification of training, and failing to evaluate forklift drivers every 3 years as required; several industries were cited for forklift violations, but it was predominantly prevalent in warehousing and storage facilities, fabricated and structural metal manufacturing, and among framing contractors (2,093 violations)

8. Fall protection (construction)—training requirements (29 CFR 1926.503): commonly addressed deficiencies included failing to provide training to each person required to receive it, failing to certify training in writing, inadequacies in training leading to the failure of retention by the trainee, and failing to retrain in instances where the trainee failed to retain the training content (1,773 violations)

9. Machine guarding (29 CFR 1910.212): common violations included failing to guard points of operation, failing to ensure that guards are securely attached to machinery, improper guarding of fan blades, and failing to properly anchor fixed machinery; most common offenders of these violations were machine shops and fabricated metal manufacturing (1,743 violations)

10. Personal protective and lifesaving equipment (construction)—eye and face protection (29 CFR 1926.102): frequently cited issues included failing to provide eye and face protection where employees are exposed to hazards from flying objects, failing to provide eye protection with side protection, and failing to provide protection from caustic hazards, gases, and vapors (1,411 violations)