In September, OSHA revealed a preliminary list of its top ten most frequently cited standard violations for fiscal year 2019.
The administration’s purpose in publishing the list every year is to encourage employers to examine and identify hazards in their workplaces, and to take action to prevent injuries and illnesses.
For the ninth consecutive year, fall protection leads the list. Respiratory protection fell from fourth to fifth place, but remains in the top five for the fifth straight year. And for the second year in a row, Personal Protective (PPE) and Lifesaving Equipment appear at number ten.
Here’s the full Top 10 Violations List for 2019:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements
Standard: 1926.501
Number of Violations: 6,010
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 1
2. Hazard Communication
Standard: 1910.1200
Number of Violations: 3,671
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 2
3. Scaffolds – General Requirements
Standard: 1926.451
Number of Violations: 2,813
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 3
4. Lockout/Tagout
Standard: 1910.147
Number of Violations: 2,606
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 5
5. Respiratory Protection
Standard: 1910.134
Number of Violations: 2,450
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 4
Related Article: Are you Forgetting This Key Part to the Respirator Standard?
6. Ladders
Standard: 1926.1053
Number of Violations: 2,345
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 6
7. Powered Industrial Trucks
Standard: 1910.178
Number of Violations: 2,093
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 7
8. Fall Protection
Standard: 1926.503
Number of Violations: 1,773
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 8
9. Machine Guarding
Standard: 1910.212
Number of Violations: 1,743
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 9
10. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection
Standard: 1926.95
Number of Violations: 1,411
OSHA Top 10 Violations 2018 Rank: 10
These preliminary numbers are as of Aug. 15, 2019. The final number of violations will be officially released by OSHA and the National Safety Council in December 2019.
Based on the numbers, there have been over 245 respiratory protection violations and 140 PPE violations per month in 2019. All of which are virtually preventable.
Penalties Rise with Inflation
While the OSHA standards most frequently cited have not significantly changed, fines associated with the violations increased by about 2.5% over the past year.
By no later than Jan. 15 of each year, OSHA is required by the Inflation Adjustment Act to adjust civil monetary penalties assessed by, or enforced by, the Department of Labor. As a result, in 2019, the maximum fine per serious violation increased for inflation from $12,675 to $13,260. Penalties for willful ($132,598), repeat ($132, 598), other-than-serious ($13,260), and failure to abate ($13,250) were similarly aligned.
The Importance of a Good Health & Safety Plan
Of course, it’s better to avoid violations in the first place. Not only can penalties prove costly to a company’s bottom line, but also the company’s reputation can be damaged. Employees and their families, the community, customers, investors, and others will surely have a negative opinion of a company that doesn’t make health and safety a priority.
Let Worksite Medical help you protect your company’s reputation and avoid negative perceptions and costly fines, all at your convenience with onsite medical surveillance testing.
We offer onsite respirator fit testing, audiometric exams, OSHA physicals, and even complete lab work to help ensure your company complies with all of OSHA’s standards. Never send your team away for testing again. Let us come to you!
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