by Safety Management Group
For David Letterman fans, the Top 10 list is a much-needed nightly dose of humor. Music fans see Top 10 lists as recognition of a job well done and marketplace success. But when the folks at OSHA publish a list, nobody smiles or wants to be included.
Every year, the federal workplace safety watchdog issues a list of the ten standards that its inspectors cited most frequently during the preceding fiscal year, along with a list of the standards that led to the highest total penalties.
Why should an owner or contractor be interested in what OSHA looked at last year? Two reasons. First, it calls attention to what inspectors are looking for when they set foot on jobsites. For example, the first entry on the “most cited” list (and the second for fines) is scaffolding on construction sites. Consider it a gentle warning that if an OSHA inspector shows up on your site, he or she will be looking closely at your scaffolding and verifying that a properly trained competent person is overseeing it.
The second reason to share the lists is that they provide reminders of the many facets of workplace safety, giving you the opportunity to verify that your own safety program addresses all the areas mentioned in the lists.
With that introduction, here are the ten safety standards OSHA inspectors cited most frequently during 2009:
1. Scaffolding (construction). Nearly two out of three construction workers perform at least part of their work on scaffolding. Roughly 4,500 workers are injured each year in scaffold-related incidents, and as many as 50 actually die.
2. Fall protection (construction). Proper fall protection and the correct use of personal protective equipment are not always well-understood, creating a very real prospect of danger.
3. Hazard communication (general industry). The best safety plan is only effective when it is communicated clearly and well-understood.
4. Respiratory protection (general industry). From particulates to chemicals to vehicle exhaust, worksites have many airborne pollutants that can irritate and even harm a worker’s lungs.
5. Control of hazardous energy (general industry). The best way to comply with OSHA rules in this area is to develop and implement a sound lockout/tagout program.
6. Ladder (construction). On worksites, ladders are often the most dangerous tools. Many workers do not consider them to be particularly dangerous, creating a false sense of security.
7. Powered industrial trucks (general industry). Remember that anyone operating a forklift or similar vehicle must be properly trained. Most forklift incidents are preventable.
8. Electrical (general industry). Here, OSHA is referring to the basics of electrical safety, including proper wiring methods, the use of correct components, and the adequacy of equipment.
9. Electrical systems design (general industry). Although it may not be an official government document, NFPA 70E covers every practical aspect of workplace safety related to working with electricity. In addition to outlining standards and documentation for specific procedures and the correct types of personal protective equipment (PPE) for each, it spells out the responsibilities of both owners and contractors, and how they should interact regarding potential hazards on a jobsite. Reports from the field suggest that OSHA is citing NFPA 70E’s requirements when it investigates incidents and injuries.
10. Fall protection (training requirements). Companies that want to protect workers from falls need to place a high priority on training everyone involved. In addition to proper identification of anchorage points and use of equipment, that training should ensure that everyone knows what to do when a mishap occurs.
In addition to the ten areas cited above, OSHA’s highest total penalties for the year were also assessed on a number of standards, among them excavation-related issues, general rules about machinery, the General Duty clause, aerial lift equipment, and how processes involving highly hazardous chemicals were managed.