The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced last week at the National Safety Council Congress in San Diego its Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2022 (October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022).
Fall Protection-General Requirements, which covers a wide range of hazards, from not erecting barriers at ledges to not equipping workers with harnesses or covering large holes in floors, remains at the top of the list for the 12th year in a row, followed by Hazard Communication and Respiratory Protection.
Falls, slips, and trips at construction sites led to an average of 376 deaths annually from 2018 to 2020.
The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for the Fiscal Year 2022 are:
1. Fall Protection-General Requirements (29 CFR 1926.501) -5,260 violations
2. Hazard Communications (29 CFR 1910.1200) – 2,424 violations
3. Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134) 2,185 violations
4. Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053) – 2,143 violations
5. Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451) – 2,058 violations
6. Lockout/ Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147) – 1,977 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks/Forklifts (29 CFR 1910.128) – 1,749 violations
8. Full Protection-Training (29 CFR 1926.503) – 1,556 violations
9. Personal Protective Lifesaving Equipment -Eye and Face Protection
(29 CFR 1926.102) – 1,401 violations
10. Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212) – 1,370 violations
The OSHA Annual Top 10 list assists companies in defining trends so that safety professionals and internal safety representatives can find the appropriate solutions to avoid future safety mishaps.
It is highly recommended that companies revisit their safety assessment review and regularly monitor training and reinforcement of all of the essential safety standards that could impact each job category. Whether the job requires work with machinery or simply physical labor, it is important to consider forming a safety committee to include management, supervisors, and employees in order to keep a continual dialogue of adherence to a safe workplace.
Pittsburgh Labor & Employment Attorneys
For questions about creating a health and safety strategy for your business, or assistance with other occupational health and safety matters, contact Frank C. Botta, Partner and Litigation Chair at The Lynch Law Group. He can be reached at fbotta@lynchlaw-group.com, or by phone at 724.776.8000.
