OSHA Violations 2013, Detailed: Serious vs. Willful

In a previous article, we covered the 'Top Ten Violations' by Federal OSHA for FY 2013. I have wanted to come back to this topic once a bit more information was revealed, and what do you know? I recently came across an article from the National Safety Council (NSC.org) that not only had my previous list of "Most Frequently Cited" from last year, but it also included the top five sections cited under each OSHA Standard. As an added bonus, I have also included the "Top 10 Serious Violations" and the "Top 10 Willful Violations." Of course, both of these are for FY 2013 as well. 

Before I jump into the numbers, I wanted to help our readers fully understand what the difference between these types of violations. I have included below the definitions as stated by OSHA.

TYPES OF VIOLATIONS

SERIOUS: A serious violation exists when the workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, unless the employer did not know or could not have known of the violation.

WILLFUL: A willful violation is defined as a violation in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement (purposeful disregard) or acted with plain indifference to employee safety.

OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations for FY 2013

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501) – 8,739 

• Residential construction [(b)(13)] – 4,733
• Unprotected sides and edges [(b)(1)] – 1,696
• Roofing work on low-slope roofs [(b)(10)] – 912
• Steep roofs [(b)(11)] – 656
• Holes [(b)(4)] – 328
    

• Maintaining a written hazard communication program [(e)(1)] – 2,469
• Providing employees with information and training [(h)(1)] – 1,561
• Chemical container labeling [(f)(5)] – 701
• Maintaining Safety Data Sheets [(g)(8)] – 611
• Obtaining or developing Safety Data Sheets [(g)(1)] – 496
    

• Protection from falls to a lower level [(g)(1)] – 1,589
• Planking or decking requirements [(b)(1)] – 788
• Point of access for scaffold platforms [(e)(1)] – 871
• Foundation requirements [(c)(2)] – 632
• Guardrail requirements [(g)(4)] – 376
   

Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 4,153 

• Medical evaluation general requirements [(e)(1)] – 705
• Establishing and implementing written respirator protection program [(c)(1)] – 650
• Covering situations when respirator use is not required [(c)(2)] – 510
• Respirator selection general requirements [(d)(1)] – 342
• Ensuring respirators are fit tested [(f)(2)] – 332
   

• Use of flexible cords and cables [(g)(1)] – 1,004
• Conductors entering boxes, cabinets, or fittings [(b)(1)] – 821
• Identification, splices and terminations [(g)(2)] – 703
• Covers and canopies [(b)(2)] – 577
• Temporary wiring [(a)(2)] – 194
    

• Safe operation [(l)(1)] – 905
• Refresher training and evaluation [(l)(4)] – 575
• Avoidance of duplicative training [(l)(6)] – 377
• Taking truck out of service when repairs are necessary [(p)(1)] – 336
• Maintenance of industrial trucks [(q)(7)] – 304
   

• Requirements for portable ladders used for accessing upper landing surfaces [(b)(1)] – 1,866
• Ladder use only for its designed purpose [(b)(4)] – 482
• Not using the top or top step of step-ladder as a step [(b)(13)] – 268
• Marking portable ladders with structural defects with tags noting them as defective [(b)(16)] – 215
• Employees shall not carry objects or loads that could cause them to lose balance and fall [(b)(22)] – 107
   

Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 3,505 

• Energy control procedure [(c)(4)] – 996
• Periodic inspection [(c)(6)] – 653
• Energy control program [(c)(1)] – 651
• Training and communication [(c)(7)] – 580
• Lockout or tagout device application [(d)(4)] – 169
    

• Installation and use of equipment [(b)(2)] – 814
• Space around electric equipment [(g)(1)] – 670
• Guarding of live parts [(g)(2)] – 347
• Services, feeders, and branch circuits [(f)(2)] – 327
• Examination of equipment [(b)(1)] – 280
    

• Types of guarding [(a)(1)] – 1,815
• Point of operation guarding [(a)(3)] – 662
• Anchoring fixed machinery [(b)] – 214
• Exposure of blades [(a)(5)] – 79
• General requirements [(a)(2)] – 73

Top 10 Serious Violations Federal OSHA issued in FY 2013

1. Fall Protection (1926.501) – 7,492
    
2. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 5,213
    
3. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) – 3,761
    
4. Ladders (1926.1053) – 3,162
    
5. Electrical – Wiring Methods (1910.305) – 2,923
    
6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 2,832
    
7. Machine Guarding (1910.212) – 2,588
    
8. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) – 2,539
    
9. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 2,365
    
10. Electrical – General Requirements (1910.303) – 2,204

Top 10 Willful Violations Federal OSHA issued in FY 2013

1. Fall protection (1926.501) – 73
    
2. Excavations (1926.652) – 34
    
3. Lead (1926.62) – 25
    
4. Machine Guarding (1910.212) – 23
    
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 20
    
6. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 19
    
7. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes (1910.23) – 18
    
8. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 17
    
9. Process Safety Management (1910.119) – 14
    
10. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) – 10

Remember, in the safety world, if you think you have a problem....chances are you do! This is where Safety Training Services can help! We will train (and/or retrain) you and your employees on OSHA compliance & other safety-related courses. Our site or yours, our hands-on courses will provide you with appropriate training to keep you safe and consistent to OSHA requirements.