--- title: STS Safety Blog | Safety Training Services | osha safety training description: osha safety training | Safety Training Services, Inc. Blog of relevant OSHA safety news & advice! --- - [STS Homepage](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/) - [Contact STS](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/contact-sts/contact-us) - [STS Safety Blog](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog) [![Safety Training Services Inc. 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Below, you will find the list as well some insight on OSHA's new approach to inspections and trends for 2016. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing blog articles written with the intent of showcasing these top violations, and how to avoid them. ## The "Top 10" for FY 2015 are:[![Fall protection is still the most cited OSHA safety violation](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2015-Fall_Protection_is_still_most_cited_OSHA_safety_violation.jpg?width=428&height=800&name=2015-Fall_Protection_is_still_most_cited_OSHA_safety_violation.jpg "Fall protection is still the most cited OSHA safety violation")](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/hubfs/images/2015-Fall_Protection_is_still_most_cited_OSHA_safety_violation.jpg) 1. **Fall Protection (Construction)**  - Standard Cited: [1926.501](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10757&p_table=STANDARDS) - **6,721 violations** - **Violations up (6,143 in FY 2014)** 2. **Hazard Communication** - Standard Cited: [1910.1200](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10099) - **5,192 violations** - **Violations up (5,161 in FY 2014)** 3. **Scaffolding (Construction)** - Standard Cited: [1926.451](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10752) - **4,295 violations** - **Violations up (4,029 in FY 2014)** 4. **Respiratory** **Protection** - Standard Cited: [1910.134](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=STANDARDS) - **3,305 violations** - **Violations down (3,223 in FY 2014)** 5. **Lockout/Tagout** - Standard Cited: [1910.147](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document%3Fp_id%3D9804%26p_table%3DSTANDARDS) - **3,002 violations** - **Violations up (2,704 in FY 2014)** 6. **Powered Industrial Trucks** - Standard Cited: [1910.178](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9828&p_table=standards) - **2,760 violations** - **Violations up (2,662 in FY 2014)** 7. **Ladders (Construction)** - Standard Cited: [1926.1053](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10839) - **2,489 violations** - **Violations up (2,448 in FY 2014)** 8. **Electrical-Wiring Methods** - Standard Cited: [1910.305](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9882&p_table=STANDARDS) - **2,404 violations** - **Violations down (2,490 in FY 2014)** 9. **Machine Guarding** - Standard Cited: [1910.212](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9836) - **2,295 violations** - **Violations up (2,200 in FY 2014)** 10. **Electrical-General Requirements** - Standard Cited: [1910.303](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_DOCUMENT?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9880) - **1,973 violations** - **Violations down (2,056 in FY 2014)** ### Remember, these are what causes the majority of injuries and deaths as well as what a compliance officer would look for most often during inspections. Also, OSHA had announced that it will change the way it approaches inspections. The plan was to (starting this month, October 2015) emphasize quality over quantity. The idea was that OSHA would then be able to tackle more complicated, time-consuming inspections and therefore more impactful inspections. There is a bit of pressure under the current system to make the numbers, and hopefully with a new system, more meaningful and effective inspections can occur and lead to improved worker safety. The last piece to note is about enforcement trends. As the number of inspections may change going into 2016 due to the changes in their approach to inspections, the trend of paying higher fines per citation has been continued into 2015 and may very well continue into 2016 seeing as the new system of inspections will focus on these more impactful inspections. Also to note on that subject is OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) which saw an almost 25% increase from 2014 to 2015, and continues onwards to today. Lastly, many more OSHA inspections are brought about by employee complaints, as OSHA has reached out to employees directly and allows easier access for them to go online and reach out to OSHA. Unjustifed complaints come in, due to disgrunted employees or whatnot, but this can be reduced by creating good safety culture within their workplace. Expect this trend of more concerned employees reaching out to continue. 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/oshas-top-10-violations-for-2015-and-trends-for-2016#comments-listing) Tags: [osha training](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-training), [osha most cited](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-most-cited), [OSHA](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha), [osha compliance](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-compliance), [osha top violations](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-top-violations), [osha safety](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-safety), [osha general industry training](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-general-industry-training), [osha safety topics](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-safety-topics), [osha violations](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-violations), [osha safety training](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-safety-training), [osha violations 2015](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/topic/osha-violations-2015) ## [Safety Training--An Easy Way to Save Thousands In 2016!](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/safety-training-saves-thousands-in-2016) Posted by [Joshua Fleishman](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/sts-blog/author/joshua-fleishman) on Tue, Sep 01, 2015 @ 09:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Safety training is an important part of any business. Not just for those going into confined spaces or other hazardous atmospheres, but for those going into a formal office, a hospital, or anything in between. Safety training is a phrase often used to describe the training materials designed to teach occupational safety and health standards developed by various safety governing entities such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), or DOL (Department of Labor). Employers in the United States have a legal responsibility to educate employees on all workplace safety standards and the hazards their employees may face while working on the job. Proper safety training, whether through the employer or a third-party contractor, meets this requirement.  ### **What are the benefits of safety training? Well, appropriate safety training can be linked to a reduction in the following:** - **the number of injuries and deaths** - **property damage** - **legal liability** - **illnesses** - **workers' compensation claims** - **missed work** For safety training to be successful, participants must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the standard and how it applies to their specific job. If presented correctly by a qualified trainer, it can promote a strong culture of safety in the workplace, one where veteran employees follow proper safety rules & guidelines and assist in promoting the same for new hires. This is achieved by both good, safety-conscious employees and solid trainers who keep employees engaged and keep their training program relevant and not too generalized. But what happens when you neglect safety training at your workplace? In addition to a potential increase of the things listed above, here are a few times employers have felt the sting in their financial bottom line as well. Below, I have itemized OSHA citations reported in Jun-Aug 2015 for infractions of neglecting safety training for their employees. It's much cheaper to hire someone to do your training if you are unable to handle it yourself than to wait until OSHA hits you with related fines. --- **Company: Bigston Corporation** *Inspection Site: Elk Grove Village, IL* Date of Findings: March 5, 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910. 134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii). Penalty: **$4,200.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28539) --- **Company: Grimco Inc.** *Inspection Site: Akron, OH* Date of Findings: June 3, 2015 **![LOTO-Safety-Fail_01](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LOTO-Safety-Fail_01.jpg?width=243&name=LOTO-Safety-Fail_01.jpg)** Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. Penalty: **$7,000.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28440) --- **Company: Wilbert, Inc.** *Inspection Site: Bellevue, OH* Date of Findings: February 2, 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910.174(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees. Penalty: **$7,000.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28419) --- **Company: D.R. Diedrich & Co.** *Inspection Site: Milwaukee, WI* Date of Findings: February 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910.174(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation. Penalty: **$6,300.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28359) --- **Company: Ansley Metal Fabrication and Repair** *Inspection Site: Donalsonville, GA* Date of Findings: March 26, 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1926.761(b): The employer did not train each employee exposed to a fall hazard in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.761. Penalty: **$4,900.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28347) --- **Company: New Homes Construction, Inc.** *Inspection Site: Medford, NJ* Date of Findings: February 12, 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2): The employer did not assure that each employee exposed to fall hazards was trained by a competent person qualified in the areas specified in 29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2)(i) through (viii). Penalty: **$3,080.00** Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1926.1060(a): The employer did not provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary, which would train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize hazards related to ladders and stairways. Penalty: **$3,080.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28221) --- **Company: Elite Storage Solutions, LLC![Fire_extinguisher_ad_4x6x](https://www.safetytrainingservices.net/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Fire_extinguisher_ad_4x6x.jpg?width=237&name=Fire_extinguisher_ad_4x6x.jpg)** *Inspection Site: Monroe, GA* Date of Findings: January 28, 2015 Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. Penalty: **$7,000.00** Type of Violation: **Serious** 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(l): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting. The employer expected employees to use extinguishers to use extinguishers to fight incipient level fires, but did not implement a training program for the use of fire extinguishers. Penalty: **$5,500.00** [Source](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=28209) As you can see, the above fine amounts aren't generally high enough amounts to warrant closing up your company's doors, but they will certainly impact your profitability. Even more important is the realization that after paying the fine, you still have to pay for the training as well. Which can effectively double the initial cost if you were to train your employees in the first place. That number wouldn't even have taken into consideration the potential increase of compensation claims, property damage, missed work, injuries, legal liabilities and everything else discussed earlier. Keep in mind too that OSHA has made it easy to anonymously tip them off to an unsafe workplace. One phone call or email can now much more easily give an inspector a reason to visit. You must always take employee complaints seriously. In the case of the last two sources, you can see that having two fines for training can add up. If you expect your employees to use the provided fire extinguishers, you must train them in proper usage and be sure to have someone designated to check them monthly. Last of note is the company that did not have a qualified person train their employees; be sure if you are training your employees yourself, or in-house, that you (or whomever is doing the safety training) is qualified to do so. You may decide it be best to hire an outside person or company to do your safety training, but again, be sure they are at a qualified level to conduct the training. If you have any questions about this subject, feel free to contact us here at Safety Training Services by clicking below! 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