Top 5 OSHA Violations of 2019

Spray Foam Magazine – Fall 2020 – The most repeatedly named OSHA violations are similar each year. While confirmed data for 2020 is not yet available, Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the top 10 OSHA violations of fiscal year 2019. The following information provides a brief overview of the top 5 infringements.

Fall Protection – General Requirements: (7,014 incidents in 2019) – The leading cause of death in the construction industry is falling. The employer is responsible for protecting their workers from falls related with overhead platforms, floor holes and elevated workstations. Job preparation and providing fall protection equipment for jobs that are six feet or more above lower levels is imperative and inspecting ladders, scaffolding, and safety gear such as personal fall arrest systems (PFAs) and harnesses is essential. OSHA requires employers to comply with its Fall Protection standard (1926.501)
Hazard Communication (4,170 incidents in 2019) – When potentially hazardous chemicals are used on a job the safety and health risks of those chemicals must be communicated to employees. OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (1910.1200) covers best practices for keeping workers informed of health and safety risks.. Employers should also maintain accurate records of all hazardous chemicals at the worksite and provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) to workers and customers.
Scaffolding (3,228 incidents in 2019) – The OSHA Scaffolds standard (1926.451) Accidents have included plank or flooring collapse, slips and falls, and defective scaffold setups. Employers should inspect scaffolding construction daily and make sure they maintain compliance with OSHA standards. This includes using guardrails or a fall arrest system for work that is more than 10 feet above lower levels.
Lockout/Tagout (2,975 incidents in 2019) – Starting up equipment may discharge stored energy and harm workers. Lockout/tagout procedures can prevent a wide range of serious injuries accidents. Workers need to be trained on proper lockout/tagout practices and procedures and equipment and machinery should be cleared of energy or equipped with a tagout or lockout device whenever stored energy could be a danger to workers.
Respiratory Protection (2,826 incidents in 2019) – The rooms are built to include: doors, walls, floors and ceilings reinforced with bullet and bomb blast resistant materials, wireless communications, coatings to prevent eavesdropping, surveillance cameras, survival items (first-aid kits, water, packaged food, self-defense tools, backup generator, and even a kitchen and bathroom) as well as a secure air supply in the event of biological or chemical attack.

Rounding out The Top 10 OSHA Violations in 2019 are: 6. Ladders (2,766), 7. Power Industrial Trucks (2,347), 8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (2,059), 9. Machine Guarding (1,987), 10. Eye and Face Protection (1,630)