OSHA's Top 10 Safety and Health Violations for 2017

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its annual list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations. It is important for employers to recognize these common violations and implement the necessary procedures to protect their employees. By creating a culture of safety in the workplace, starting with these 10 most common violations, companies can significantly reduce the number of on-the-job injuries and fatalities that occur annually.

While this list does not change much from year to year, it should be noted that #9 on the list (Fall Protection Training Requirements) is a new addition for fiscal year 2017, bumping Electrical General Requirements from the top 10. It should also be noted that violations are down across the board when compared to last year.

Top 10 OSHA Citations of 2017

1. Fall Protection (6,887 violations in FY 2017; down 19 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 – violations generally involve failing to provide adequate fall protection systems to employees working at elevated heights.
  
  
2. Hazard Communication (4,652 violations in FY 2017; down 1,012 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 – violations generally involve failure to properly classify hazards and communicate them to employees.
  
  
3. Scaffolding (3,697 violations in FY 2017; down 203 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 – violations typically involve improper assembly of scaffolds, such a missing planking.
  
  
4. Respiratory Protection (3,381 violations in FY 2017; down 192 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 – violations are generally for employees using respirators not being medically evaluated or properly fit tested.
  
  
5. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) (3,131 violations in FY 2017; down 295 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 – violations include failing to have machine specific LOTO procedures, inadequate training on procedures, and failing to conduct periodic inspections of procedures.
  
  
6. Ladders (2,567 violations in FY 2017; down 58 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053 – violations typically involve defective ladders or the improper use of portable ladders.
  
  
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (2,349 violations in FY 2017; down 506 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 – violations generally involve the unsafe use of a forklift.
  
  
8. Machine Guarding (2,109 violations in FY 2017; down 339 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 – violations are generally for failing to have machines and equipment adequately guarded.
  
  
9. Fall Protection Training Requirements (1,724 violations in FY 2017; unranked in previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.503 – violations typically include failure to train workers on identifying fall hazards and proper use of fall protection equipment.
  
  
10. Electrical Wiring Methods (1,530 violations in FY 2017; down 407 from the previous year)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.305 – violations are generally for temporary wiring used in lieu of permanent wiring and inappropriate use of extension (flexible) cords.
  
  

References

• National Safety Council, 2017, OSHA’s Top 10 Violations for 2017 revealed at NSC Congress & Expo, http://www.nsc.org/Connect/NSCNewsReleases/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=241
• Druley, K., 2017, OSHA’s Top 10 most-cited violations for fiscal year 2017, Safety+Health Magazine, published by the National Safety Council, http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16362-oshas-top-10-most-cited-violations-for-2017?page=1.
• Cordaro, T., 2017, OSHA Announces Top Ten Violations, OSHA Law Blog, Jackson Lewis, P.C., https://www.oshalawblog.com/2017/10/articles/osha-announces-top-ten-violations/.