OSHA's Top 10 Safety Violations for 2012

June is National Safety Month. It's a perfect time to take a look back at last year's biggest problem spots for OSHA compliance. Companies are responsible for keeping employees safe by providing the necessary safety training and protective equipment. This list gives employers a chance to see if they're covering all the hazards in their workplace.

Top 10 Most Cited Violations for Fiscal-Year 2012 –

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements
   This standard outlines where fall protection is required, which systems are appropriate for given situations, the proper construction and installation of safety systems, and the proper supervision of employees to prevent falls. It's designed to protect employees on a walking/working surface (horizontal or vertical) with an unprotected side or edge above 6 feet.
2. Hazard Communication
   This standard addresses chemical hazards, including chemicals produced in the workplace, as well as those imported into the workplace. It also governs the communication of those hazards to workers.
3. Scaffolding – General Requirements
   Scaffolds should be designed by a qualified person, and should be constructed and loaded in accordance with that design. Employers must protect construction workers from falls and falling objects while working on or near scaffolding at heights of 10 feet or more.
4. Respiratory Protection
   This standard directs employers in establishing or maintaining a respiratory protection program. It lists requirements for program administration; worksite-specific procedures; respirator selection; employees training; fit testing; medical evaluation; respirator use; and respirator cleaning, maintenance, and repair.
5. Ladders
   This standard covers general requirements for all ladders.
6. Machine Guarding – General Requirements
   This standard covers guarding machinery to protect operators and other employees from hazards, including those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks.
7. Powered Industrial Trucks
   This standard covers the design, maintenance, and operation of powered industrial trucks, including forklifts and motorized hand trucks. It also covers requirements for operator training.
8. Electrical – Wiring Methods
   This standard covers the grounding of electrical equipment, wiring and insulation. It includes temporary wiring and splicing, such as flexible cords and cables.
9. Lockout/Tagout
   This standard outlines minimum performance requirements for the control of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment.
10. Electrical – General Requirements
    This standard covers general safety requirements for designing electrical systems.

OSHA violations cost employers millions of dollars in citations, not to mention the danger employees are in. Providing your workers the proper safety training and protective equipment a huge responsibility. If you have any questions about the equipment you need to protect your employees, give our Technical Support Reps a call at 1-800-571-4646, or email techsupport@northernsafety.com. They're here to help you comply with standards and keep your workers safe.

Sources: Safety & Health

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