Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited violations in FY 2022.
Every year, OSHA releases a list of the top 10 most violated workplace standards. Recently, Patrick Kapust, acting director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented a list of preliminary figures for fiscal year (FY) 2022—the fiscal year ends September 30—during the National Safety Council’s (NSC) 2022 Safety Congress & Expo in San Diego, California. The following standards are the FY 2022 top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations.
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements
The fall protection general requirements standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §1926.501) was the most violated OSHA standard in FY 2022, with a total of 5,260 violations. Click here for OSHA’s standards and recommendations for fall protection, and check out Back to Basics: Fall Prevention in Construction, for more information.
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2. Hazard Communication
OSHA’s hazard communication (HAZCOM) standard (§1910.1200) had a total of 2,424 violations in FY 2022. Click here for OSHA’s standards and recommendations for HAZCOM, and check out Back to Basics: Managing Workplace Chemical Hazards for more information on HAZCOM and updated enforcement inspection procedures.
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3. Respiratory Protection
The respiratory protection standard (§1910.134) had 2,185 total violations, according to OSHA. Compliance with the respiratory standard is essential in preventing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries every year, says OSHA. Click here to view OSHA’s guidance and standards for respiratory protection.
4. Ladders
The ladder standard (§1926.1053) was violated 2,143 times in FY 2022. Click here for OSHA’s ladder safety standard, and check out Back to Basics: Ladder Safety for more information on how to properly and safely use ladders.
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5. Scaffolding
OSHA’s scaffolding standard (§1926.451) had a total of 2,058 violations. Click here to view OSHA’s guidelines and recommendations for scaffolding safety along with resources for potential hazards and solutions.
6. Lockout/Tagout
In FY 2022, the lockout/tagout standard (§1910.147) was violated 1,977 times. Click here for OSHA’s lockout/tagout guidance and check out Back to Basics: Lockout/Tagout for more information on the control of hazardous energy.
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7. Powered Industrial Trucks
The OSHA standard for powered industrial trucks (§1910.178) had 1,749 violations in FY 2022. Click here for OSHA’s standards and recommendations for powered industrial truck safety, and check out Back to Basics: Forklift and Powered Industrial Truck Safety for more information.
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8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements
The training requirements standard for fall protection (§1926.503) was violated 1,556 times. Click here to view OSHA’s fall protection training standard, which addresses how to put together a training program for employees exposed to fall hazards. Also, check out Back to Basics: Fall Prevention in Construction, for more information.
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9. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment — Eye and Face Protection
OSHA’s standard for eye and face protection (§1926.102), which falls under personal protective equipment (PPE), had 1,401 total violations in FY 2022. Click here to view OSHA’s guidance on eye and face protection, and for more information on OSHA’s requirements for PPE, check out Back to Basics: OSHA PPE Requirements.
Click here for the accompanying infographic.
10. Machine Guarding
The 10th most violated standard was OSHA’s machine guarding standard (§1910.212), which had 1,370 violations. Click here to read OSHA’s standards and recommendations for machine guarding, and check out Back to Basics: Machine Guarding Requirements for more information.
Click here for the accompanying infographic.