Every year OSHA publishes its Top 10 violations list, and every year employers fall into the same trap, garnering citations and often hefty fines. Last year was no different.
The top 10 OSHA violations for fiscal 2010 were:
- Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
- Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
- Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
- Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
- Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
- Electrical systems design, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303)
- Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
The same standards, with one exception (machines replaced training requirements for fall protection in the number 10 slot this year), featured in OSHA’s Top 10 for 2009. In fact, with few exceptions the same violations appear on the list year after year, which means employers and employees are making the same mistakes every year about compliance with OSHA standards.
Don’t make the same safety mistakes over and over again. Instead, start 2011 off right with a webinar review of the most recent OSHA Top 10 list and—more importantly—practical tips for staying off it in 2011. Click here for details.
Highest Penalties
Standards for which OSHA assessed the highest penalties in fiscal 2010 were:
- Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Electrical, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.403)
- Safety training and education, walking and working surfaces (29 CFR 1910.21)
- Lockout/tagout, general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
- Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
- General Duty Clause (Section 5[a][1] of the OSH Act)
- Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction (29 CFR 1926.652)
- Lead, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1025)
- Grain handling facilities (29 CFR 1910.272)
- Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
Join us on February 25 for an in-depth 90-minute interactive webinar on staying ahead of OSHA enforcement actions and staying off OSHA’s Top 10 list. Learn More.
How to Stay Off the List
To stay off OSHA’s Top 10 list and avoid costly penalties, join us February 25 for a webnar with speaker Adele Abrams, Esq., an attorney and safety professional who represents employers and contractors nationwide in OSHA and MSHA litigation and workers’ compensation cases.
Ms. Abrams will tell you about:
- The Top 10 standards violated during 2010
- How the Top 10 list interfaces with the Severe Violators Enforcement Program and the National Emphasis Program
- Common pitfalls to watch out for when conducting in-house audits
- Strategies for training front-line supervisors and managers on safety conditions and employee practices
- How to stay ahead of OSHA enforcement actions
- What to do—and what not to do—if OSHA stops by your workplace for a surprise visit
- The latest on DOL’s Plan/Prevent/Protect (P3) initiative
Take advantage of this golden opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other employers and face 2011 with renewed confidence in your compliance programs.