OSHA recently released their annual report of the 10 most-cited safety violations from the year, and it provides interesting insight of national trends. OSHA’s annual list reflects the past fiscal year (October 1st, 2017 through September 30, 2018).
The top four on the list have been on the list since 2015, the same year OSHA began collecting and publishing the data. The only newcomer to the list is Eye and Face Protection, coming in at #10. Falls are the leading cause of workplace injury and death in the construction industry, so it is no surprise to see Fall Protection leading the pack as the #1 most cited safety violation for another year. *Note: Fall Protection takes two positions on this list*. The first Fall Protection listing is for General Requirement violations, while the second is for violations regarding Training Requirements. Below is the full list of OSHA’s top 10 most-cited safety violations along with the number of violations recorded for the fiscal year.
- Fall Protection – General Requirements – 7,270 violations
- Hazard Communication – 4,552
- Scaffolding – 3,336
- Respirator Protection – 3,118
- Lockout/Tagout – 2.944
- Ladders – 2,812
- Powered Industrial Trucks – 2,294
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements – 1,982
- Machine Guarding – 1,972
- Eye and Face Protection – 1,539
The Top 10 represents the most frequently cited standards, and they are a good place to start for the employer in identifying hazards in their own workplace” – Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also released their annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses recently. This report shows that approximately 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported in 2017 for all industries nationwide (~48,500 fewer than 2016). Interestingly, the Bureau reported the Days Away from Work rate for workers struck by objects or equipment dropped to 13.8 per 10,000 full-time workers from 14.5 in 2016. In other words, the total number of cases decreased by 4,180. This decrease is good news for the construction industry and a sign of improving conditions.
With 2018 coming to an end, it is important to look back at the previous year and reflect on areas of improvement, especially when it comes down to keeping our employees and our teams safe.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding safety or safety training, feel free to reach out to our team at The Integrated Group for support at 425.822.8500 or info@theintegratedgroup.com.
No comments yet.