In latest edition of The Wright Toolbox:
OSHA Unveils Top 10 Violations List for FY 2020
The OSHA Top 10 violations list for fiscal year 2020 includes familiar contenders. Foregoing the usual reveal at the National Safety Council Congress & Expo, the preliminary data was announced via webinar on February 24th. The list was presented by Patrick Kapust, Deputy Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs and 10-year veteran presenter of the Top 10, and covers violations cited between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020.
The list provides an opportunity for companies to become aware of the issues OSHA is attuned to, and can encourage proactivity in correcting any violations before a citation occurs, or before a preventable accident can happen.
2020 violations ranked as follows:
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,424 violations. Still claiming the top spot, fall protection did have a drop of over 500 citations from FY 2019. Violations noted include not having fall protection at residential construction activities, unprotected sides and edges, and roofing work on both low slope and steep slope roofs.
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 3,199 violations. Maintaining its position on the list for several years, Hazard Communication deficiencies include having a written hazard communication program, actively implementing said plan and hosting employee training, and lacking the maintenance of readily available safety data sheets (SDSs).
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,649 violations. Respiratory protection moved up a spot from its 2019 position at #4. Noted failures in compliance were recorded in having medical evaluations for approval of use, having written respiratory protection programs, fit testing, and general requirements for respirator selection. This was commonly cited in autobody paint and interior repair maintenance shops, cut stone and product manufacturing, masonry contractors, and nursing care facilities, among others.
- Scaffolding (1926,451): 2,538 violations. Lack of attention to fall prevention requirements and general access requirements, failure of scaffolding being fully planked and decked on platforms, missing tipping restraints and an improper guardrail installation were all cited issues regarding scaffolding.
- Ladders (1926.1053): 2,129 violations. A commonly used tool, ladders continuously appear on OSHA’s Top 10. Violations noted include ladders being used for purposes outside of their designed use, top steps being used as a step, and failure to remove portable ladders with defects rom sites. These were commonly cited in roofing, siding, framing, masonry, and new single-family housing contractors.
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,066 violations. Energy control procedures, general training and communication, periodic inspection of lockout/tagout procedures, energy control program, application of the control. Plastic product manufacturing, machine shops, wood palette manufacturing, and fabricated metal manufacturing.
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1932 violations. Operator training on the type of truck they will be using, refresher training and evaluation, operating a truck that is in need of repair/service, maintenance of trucks by authorized personnel. Warehousing and storage, product manufacturing.
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1621 violations. This code does not focus on the physical safety measures to prevent falls, but rather the information provided to workers who may be at risk. OSHA noted companies that lacked training programs, maintaining their certificates of training, providing competent trainers, and retraining, including after filed inadequacies.
- Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1369 violations. Common cited issues were failure to provide eye protection, not using eye protection with side protection when necessary, and proper use of prescription lenses.
- Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1313 violations. Switching spots with Eye and Face Protection from their 2019 spots, Machine Guarding fell to the final spot on the list. Noted citations include points of operation guarding, not anchoring fixed machinery, and exposure of legs.
The OSHA Top 10 violations are an informative place to start for your company to consider what areas of safety may require more attention and needed updates for 2021. Compliance with these regulations can be life-saving, for both the success of your operations, and your employees.
You can watch the full list-reveal webinar here.