OSHA’s Top 10 Workplace Safety Violations Involve Fall Protection, Ladders & Hazardous Materials
Some of the top 10 most common workplace safety violations involve companies failing to provide fall protection, safety training for employees using hazardous chemicals, and safe ladders for employees to use, according to a recent National Safety Council (NSC) report.
Notably, many of these Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace safety violations are the same violations employers are cited for year after year, according to the NSC report.
“Although incredible advancements are made in safety each year, we continue to see many of the same types of violations appear on OSHA’s Top 10 list,” NSC president and CEO Lorraine Martin said. “As a safety community, we must come together to acknowledge these persistent trends and identify solutions to better protect workers.”
So, what are the top 10 most common OSHA workplace safety violations? Our workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have the complete list below, as well as information about how a lawyer can help an injured worker.
Lack of fall protection tops OSHA’s list
OSHA Region 6 administrator Eric Harbin announced the top 10 OSHA workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30. For the 13th consecutive year, failure to provide fall protection for workers was the top OSHA workplace safety violation.
In fiscal year 2023, there were 7,271 violations nationwide of OSHA Standard 1926.501 (Duty to have fall protection) governing “Fall Protection – General Requirements.” This OSHA requirement states that employers must provide fall protection and safety training to prevent workplace falls.
Falls from a height are some of the most common causes of work-related injuries and fatalities. On average, more than 200,000 workers are injured every year, and 800 die in work-related accidents due to falling from a height, according to an NSC study based on workplace injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Other top OSHA violations
Along with failing to provide protection for workers from a fall, the other top 10 OSHA workplace safety violations in fiscal year 2023 were:
- Hazard Communication (OSHA Standard 1910.1200) – 3,213 violations involving failing to educate employees about the dangers of hazardous chemicals.
- Ladders (OSHA 1926.1053) – 2,978 violations involving unsafe ladders, ladders being overloaded or not properly secured, many times resulting in a ladder accident.
- Scaffolding (OSHA 1926.451) – 2,859 violations involving general requirements involving unsafe scaffolding, overloaded scaffolding, and improperly secured scaffolding.
- Powered Industrial Trucks (OSHA 1910.178) – 2,561 violations involving the unsafe use of specialized industrial trucks, including motorized hand trucks, forklifts, and tractors.
- Lockout/Tagout (OSHA 1910.147) – 2,554 violations involving improper maintenance of machines and equipment used for power generation purposes.
- Respiratory Protection (OSHA 1910.134) – 2,481 violations involving failing to provide respirators to employees who work with hazardous chemicals, dust, and sprays.
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements (OSHA 1926.503) – 2,112 violations for failing to properly train workers who might be exposed to fall hazards on the job.
- Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (OSHA 1926.102) – 2,074 violations for failing to provide employees with protective face and eye equipment if their work involves face or eye hazards, such as flying particles, liquid chemicals, and acids.
- Machine Guarding (OSHA 1910.212) – 1,644 violations for failing to provide protective machine equipment, such as barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, and electronic safety devices.
Injured workers should know their legal options
On-the-job injuries involving unsafe working conditions can quickly become complicated legal matters. Even if you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, obtaining the benefits you deserve can be challenging. In addition, you could be eligible to receive additional compensation depending on the circumstances surrounding your work-related injury.
This is why it’s best to talk to an experienced work injury attorney who understands how to handle complex cases. Our workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl can help you every step of the way. We have years of experience successfully handling workers’ compensation claims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and understand what it takes to get results for injured workers.
Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with our law firm. Our legal team can review your case, explain your potential options, and get right to work on your claim so you can focus on healing.