10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its Top 10 list of most frequently cited violations for fiscal year 2018. Leading the list for the eighth straight year is Fall Protection – General Requirements. Making an appearance on the list for the first time, and coming in at No. 10, is Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection. This violation bumped from the list last year’s No. 10 item, Electrical – Wiring Methods (OSHA standard 1910.305). Here is the full OSHA Top 10 list of most frequently cited violations for 2018, along with OSHA standard number (in parentheses) and number of total violations: Most Cited Violations of 2018
  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501), 7,216 2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200), 4,537 3. Scaffolding – General Requirements (1926.451), 3,319 4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134), 3,112 5. Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout (1910.147), 2,923 6. Ladders (1926.1053), 2,780 7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178), 2,281 8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503), 1,978 9. Machine Guarding – General Requirement (1910.212), 1,969 10. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102), 1,528
OSHA also has released its list of Top 10 “serious” violations for fiscal year 2018 and its list of Top 10 “willful” violations of the year. As defined by OSHA, a “serious” violation as “one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.” A “willful” violation is one “committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and requirements.” Top “Serious” Violations of 2018
  1. Fall Protection (OSHA standard 1926.501), 5,899 total violations 2. Scaffolding (1926.451), 3,059 3. Hazard Communication (1910.1200), 2,949 4. Ladders (1926.1053), 2,480 5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147), 2,384 6. Respiratory Protection (1910.134), 2,044 7. Machine Guarding (1910.212), 1,710 8. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178), 1,548 9. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503), 1,539 10. Personal Protective and Life-Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102), 1,353
Top “Willful” Violations of 2018
  1. Fall Protection (OSHA standard 1926.501), 134 total violations 2. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147), 30 3. Grain-Handling Facilities (1910.272), 22 4. Requirements for Protective Systems (1926.652), 19 5. Respiratory Protection (1910.134), 15 6. Machine Guarding (1910.212), 14 7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503), 12 8. Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus (1910.219), 11 9. Hazard Communication (1910.1200), 10 9. Permit-Required Confined Spaces (1910.146), 10
Safety Solutions & Supply is the leading local provider of safety training and consultation services – all provided with the goal of keeping workers out of harm’s way and OSHA-related violations to a minimum at workplaces and jobsites. For details about SS&S programs and services, visit online at www.solutionsinsafety.com or call 1-866-537-2262.