Holding steady at #1, for an 11th straight year, Fall Protection is a very real concern in the workplace. The National Safety Council and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have recently announced the preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for the 2021fiscal year. Once again, Fall Protection remains on top.
The silver lining, we spoke of in last year’s Top 10, is that the number of citations for Fall Protection has continued to drop year by year. In 2018 the number of citations for fall protection was 7,720, which the number of citations for fall protection was 7,720, which plunged to 6,010 for the 2019 fiscal year, dropped to 5,424 violations for 2020, and rings in slightly lower in 2021 at 5,292 violations. to 6,010 for the 2019 fiscal year, dropped to 5,424 violations for 2020, and rings in slightly lower in 2021 at 5,292 violations.
Overall, the Top 10 Violations are also accounting for less citations. In 2020, the Top 10 violations accounted for 24, 239 citations, while in 2021 that total number is down to 21, 092. Could it be COVID-related? Possibly, but my optimistic self is that employers are becoming more aware and better prepared to avoid workplace injuries and fatalities. are also accounting for less citations. In 2020, the Top 10 violations accounted for 24, 239 citations, while in 2021 that total number is down to 21, 092. Could it be COVID related, possibly, but my optimistic self is that employers are becoming more aware and better prepared to avoid workplace injuries and fatalities.
Without further ado, here are the most cited violations per OSHA for their fiscal year 2021:
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527
- Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026
- Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,666
- Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,452
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,420
- Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,113
Although the top ten may fluctuate slightly on a year-to-year basis, it is alarming that practically the same ten violations and almost the same number of violations are appearing over and over again. This could be because of a variety of factors, but simply knowing and understanding the OSHA regulations could help reduce future incidents and violations. By identifying potential hazards, reviewing safety procedures with employees, and proper recordkeeping, you can create a safer environment that keeps your employees at work by reducing the chances of accidents and health problems.
Having a safe workplace can not only prevent injury/death and reduce violations, but it can also boost productivity and increase morale among employees. When employees are happy, they are more productive and therefore can increase your company’s profitability. This is where ICC Compliance Center can help. We offer various OSHA training that can help your business understand the requirements for emergency planning in the workplace. In addition, we can also create custom signage, labels, and tags, as well as review your OSHA labels and SDS documents. As your global hazmat solutions provider, we are only a phone call away.
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