OSHA's top 10 safety violations for 2013

Dec. 26, 2013
List includes numbers of violations for each of the top 10 most cited standards for FY 2013.

Graphic Products, a provider of workplace labeling and signage, has released a list of OSHA’s top 10 safety violations for 2013, along with visual communications ideas for bolstering safety for 2014. Violations for each of the top 10 most cited standards for FY 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013) include the following numbers:

1. Fall Protection (1926.501): 8,241violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 6,156 violations
3. Scaffolding (1926.451): 5,423 violations
4. Respiratory protection (1910.134) 3,879 violations
5. Electrical, wiring methods (1910.305) 3,452 violations
6. Powered industrial trucks (1910.178) 3,340 violations
7. Ladders (1926.1053) 3,311 violations
8. Lockout/tagout (1910.147) 3,254 violations
9. Electrical, general requirements (1910.303) 2,745 violations
10. Machine guarding (1910.212) 2,701 violations

See also: OSHA cites fiber installers for Kansas City gas explosion

Because the “usual suspects” tend to populate the list every year, it’s clear that more work needs to be done to generate safety awareness in those categories. Here are 10 ways to prevent becoming next year's statistic, according to Graphic Products:

-- Fall protection: Fall protection, according to OSHA, should be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in long shoring operations.

-- Hazard communication: The adoption of OSHA's GHS-aligned HazCom 2012 standard means a lot of big changes, so read the rule in its entirety. Those seeking more information on this topic can request Graphic's free HCS/HazCom 2012 Labeling Best Practice Guide.

-- Scaffolding (construction): Workers must have proper fall protection when working on raised surfaces.

-- Respiratory protection: Companies must provide appropriate respirators to employees as part of a respiratory protection program.

-- Ladders: Common issues include non-parallel positioning relative to landings, too much or too little space between rungs, inadequate landing size and ladder bases more than 12 inches off the ground.

-- Machine guarding: Machine guards protect workers’ limbs, skin and eyes from nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. “All saws, jointers and milling machines need machine guards,” explained Gary Michael, The Joinery. “We post shop safety policies on the machine guards, using brightly colored signs and labels.”

-- Powered industrial trucks: Ensure that forklifts and other industrial trucks are in top mechanical order. Operators must be trained and certified to operate vehicles safely.

-- Electrical wiring methods: Trust wiring to licensed, bonded electricians. Use caution with extension cords.

-- Lockout/tagout: Machinery or equipment can unexpectedly energize, start up or release stored energy. Use professional-grade lockout and tagout supplies.

-- Electrical general requirements: Avoid consumer-rated appliances for commercial work environments.

Graphic Products carries thermal transfer printers for every application, free technical support, and a five-year warranty on labels made with premium vinyl. Learn more.

Source:Utility Products

About the Author

Matt Vincent | Senior Editor

Matt Vincent is a B2B technology journalist, editor and content producer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the full range of media content production and management, as well as SEO and social media engagement best practices, for both Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and its website CablingInstall.com. He currently provides trade show, company, executive and field technology trend coverage for the ICT structured cabling, telecommunications networking, data center, IP physical security, and professional AV vertical market segments. Email: [email protected]

Sponsored Recommendations

imVision® - Industry's Leading Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM) Solution

May 29, 2024
It's hard to manage what you can't see. Read more about how you can get visiability into your connected environment.

Adapt to higher fiber counts

May 29, 2024
Learn more on how new innovations help Data Centers adapt to higher fiber counts.

Going the Distance with Copper

May 29, 2024
CommScopes newest SYSTIMAX 2.0 copper solution is ready to run the distanceand then some.