No No’s! OSHA’s Top 10

Hi, it’s the Spanish OSHA guy here! In my OSHA training many people wonder what OSHA’s top citations are on a nationwide level during inspections. Below are the “No No’s”. So, don’t be out of compliance in these areas, OSHA is looking for them!

1. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction
2. Fall protection, construction
3. Hazard communication standard, general industry
4. Ladders, construction
5. Respiratory protection, general industry
6. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry
7. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry
8. Powered industrial trucks, general industry
9. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry
10. Machines, general requirements, general industry

The above are a top ten list of both Construction and General Industry in the fiscal year 2010 (Oct. 1, 2009 – Sept. 30, 2010). The following list shows the standards for which OSHA assessed the highest penalties in fiscal year 2010:

1. Fall protection, construction
2. Electrical, general requirements, construction
3. Safety training and education, construction
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry
5. Machines, general requirements, general industry
6. General duty clause
7. Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction
8. Lead, general industry
9. Grain handling facilities
10. Ladders, construction

To see the complete details for the above lists and for links to the OSHA standards for each one, click here to go to the OSHA site for that page.

For more detailed information, visit Frequently Cited OSHA Standards. At that page on OSHA’s site, you can generate a report on the most frequently cited federal or state OSHA standards by your SIC code and the number of employees in your establishment.Each year they post the Most Frequently Cited Violations on their website.

Finally, I always aim to provide useful resources for readers of my “Safety Bytes” blog and eNewsletter. So, I have provided two free powerpoint presentations on this topic! To view the top 10 lists of citations nationwide for just Construction and just General Industry, please go to my OSHA onsite page where you can download a 20-slide powerpoint for each construction and industry! These powerpoint presentations are awesome because they give a detailed breakdown of the exact line item in the standard that was violated. The above lists only tell the overall standard that was cited and do not get down into detail like these powerpoint presentations do. The powerpoints are great for training or review with safety staff and committees.

Finally, I wanted to mention that I’m excited about being a training partner with the Workforce Development Department at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). They have a great director, Jack Chan, who has created a very active Facebook page for the department. Check it out at: http://www.facebook.com/wdBHCC  Until next time. -Steven St. Laurent