Top 10 OSHA Violations Announced at National Safety Congress:
On Sept. 26th, at the National Safety Council’s Annual Congress & Expo, OSHA Deputy Director of Enforcement Programs, Patrick Kapust, announced the preliminary list of 10 standards most frequently cited by the agency’s inspectors during Fiscal Year 2017. Fall protection was the most-cited standard for the seventh year in a row, followed by Hazard Communication, and Scaffolding. The only new addition to last year’s list was Fall Protection – Training Requirements, which came in at ninth place. From the pictures above, can you estimate how many citations were recorded in FY 2017 and the applicable regulation for each hazard?
REMEMBER: For employees in general industry, fall protection is needed when the height is 4 feet above a lower level. In construction work, the threshold height is 6 feet above a lower level. Fall protection on scaffolding is required at 10 feet.
“Oh, but I’m not in Construction so all the Fall Protection rules do not apply to my General Industry operations…right?” WRONG! Quite often, maintenance assignments, like repainting the outside of the building, cross over into construction-related activities. If anything, with the two foot lower threshold where fall protection is required in General Industry, more common activities occur which “fall” under the fall protection regulations.
“The OSHA Top 10 is more than just a list, it is a blueprint for keeping workers safe,” NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said in a Sept. 26 press release. “When we all work together to address hazards, we can do the best job possible to ensure employees go home safely each day.”
Still confused about the OSHA standards or how you can cost-effectively comply, let CTI help.
