OSHA Safety Violations

By on December 22nd, 2017

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has been working to keep workplaces safe since 1970. A part of that mandate has been publishing the most common safety violations, as well as pursuing unsafe employers. The seven most common OSHA violations in the workplace are:

1. Lack of Proper Protection to Guard Against Falls

Falls are perhaps the most common workplace injury in construction and related industries. Falls can happen from one surface to another, or on the same surface. Many of these incidents can be prevented with fall guards.

Employers can help prevent falls in the workplace by offering hand rails, safety nets, harnesses and lines, stair railings, toe-boards, guard rails and protective equipment as needed on the job. They can also stay compliant with safety rules by training workers to prevent falls and other common workplace hazards.

2. Lack of Adequate Hazard Communication

In some workplaces, hazardous conditions can’t be avoided. Workers may need to work with heavy machinery or toxic or hazardous materials, for example. In these cases, it’s important employees get proper training about these dangers in a language they can understand. Employers also need to post clear, accurate and up-to-date signs in the workplace to communicate dangers to workers.

3. Scaffolding and Ladder Misuse

Scaffolding and ladder misuse can involve using scaffolds as ladders, or not using proper safety precautions with ladders. Employers can reduce the risk of injuries by keeping scaffolds and ladders in good repair and offering training to all employees.

4. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Violations

LOTO regulations are designed to prevent injuries caused by the sudden start of heavy machinery or the expulsion of hazardous energy during activities related to maintenance. Employers in industries where hazardous materials and heavy machinery are a concern need to offer training and hazard communication to prevent exposure, fatalities, amputations and other serious injury. Make sure hazardous materials are secure after each shift and during operations. Heavy machinery should be completely shut down, where possible, before maintenance.

5. Respiration Protections

In workplaces where fine particulates, asbestos, hazardous materials, gases and other dangers may be present in the air, workers need to be equipped with proper safety gear — this could include respirators, mouth and nose coverings and eye protection. Employers will want to provide these pieces of safety equipment and train employees on proper fit and use. Violations in this area can mean an increased risk of cancer, throat irritation and respiratory problems for employees, so compliance is crucial.

6. Machine Guard Violations

Heavy machinery with moving parts such as rotating elements, sparks and other hazardous parts can lead to catastrophic injuries, including amputations, burns and other serious injuries. Light curtains, barriers guards and other guards keep employees safe. Even proper training is no replacement for machine guards on moving equipment, since moving equipment may not always be predictable.

Make sure you use the right guards for your equipment and that they meet current safety standards. Check for missing or damaged guards regularly — if you notice any, have them replaced at once. Train employees to recognize missing or damaged guards and equip them to report or address the problem immediately.

7. Violations Involving Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs)

Forklifts and other PITs make the workplace more efficient, but can also lead to serious injury. Proper training is important here, and it’s important for employers to ensure only qualified employees can operate and work around PITs. Create safe operational procedures and ensure they’re always followed.

OSHA fines for violations can be significant, with employers charged $12,471 per violation or $124,709 per violation for repeat offenses.

What to Know When an OSHA Violation Occurs

If you suspect an OSHA violation has occurred, you may wish to get more information about whether a violation has taken place. There are OSHA exemptions for some environments, so ensure your employer really did fail to follow guidelines. If you’re working in a place where safety standards are compromised, you may wish to contact your supervisor or employer to encourage them to make safety changes. You can also contact OSHA for help.

If all indications point to OSHA violations or you’re being discriminated against for refusing to do unsafe work, contact an attorney to take action.