Scaffolding Tops Safety Violations

Yesterday, OSHA revealed its top 10 most-cited violations for 2010. Thomas Galassi, OSHA’s directorate of enforcement programs said there were approximately 94,000 violations issued for fiscal year 2010, and the top 10 violations represented 48 to 49 percent of all violations.

“There is a close similarity between the top 10 from last year and this year,” Galassi said. Like last year, Scaffolding topped the list with 8,371 violations. This number shows a reduction from last year’s 9,093 total violations.

Coming in second place, with 7,559 violations, was Fall Protection.Any time a worker is at a height of four feet or more, the worker is at risk and needs to be protected. Fall protection must be provided at four feet in general industry, five feet in maritime, and six feet in construction.

Hazard Communication came in third place with 6,633 total violations. Galassi said that in previous years, hazard communication had been the most-cited violation, so its numbers have come down. Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.

Respiratory Protection came in fourth place with 3,932 violations. Galassi said an estimated five million workers need respirators to protect them from harmful dusts, smoke, gases, vapors, and other chemicals that may cause cancer, lung impairment, and other diseases.

The rest of the OSHA’s top 10 violations are:

• Ladders – 3,820 violations
• Lockout/Tagout – 3,531 violations
• Electrical – Wiring Methods – 3,381 violations
• Powered Industrial Trucks – 3,224 violations
• Electrical – General – 2,770 violations
• Machine Guarding – 2,556 violations

Source: http://ohsonline.com/articles/2010/10/06/scaffolding-tops-oshas-violations-list-again.aspx