During their 2012 fiscal year (which ran from October 2011 through September 2012), federal OSHA conducted almost 41,000 workplace safety and health inspections. Very interestingly enough, it seemed as though companies didn’t take the hint from the previous year in that the top cited violation is not only still number 1, but actually increased from fiscal year 2011. Below, you find the top 10 citations they handed out to companies for 2012 and further down you may be interested to see the previous year’s top 10 as well.

OSHA’s Top 10 for 2012

1. Fall Protection--General Requirements (1926.501) 7,250 violations (No change)
   

2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 4,696 violations (Up 1)
   

3. Scaffolding (1926.451): 3,814 violations (Down 1)
   

4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,371 violations (No change)
   

5. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,310 violations (Up 3)
   

6. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 2,097 violations (Up 4)
   

7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,993 violations (No change)
   

8. Electrical--Wiring Methods (1910.305): 1,744 violations (Down 2)
   

9. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,572 violations (Down 4)
   

10. Electrical--General Requirements (1910.303): 1,332 violations (Down 1)

OSHA’s Top 10 for 2011

1. Fall Protection--General requirements (1926.501): 7,139 violations
    
2. Scaffolding (1926.451): 7,069 violations
    
3. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 6,538 violations
    
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 3,944 violations
    
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 3,639 violations
    
6. Electrical--Wiring Methods (1910.305): 3,584 violations
    
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 3,432 violations
    
8. Ladders (1926.1053): 3,244 violations
    
9. Electrical--General Requirements (1910.303): 2,863 violations
    
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 2,748 violations

Don't become a statistic!

So what should you do, now armed with this knowledge? Well, first thing is get up and simply take a look around your office/plant/factory. Do you see any of these standards violated? In the safety world, if you think you have a problem....chances are you do! If you do not know you have violations or do not know how to look for them, that's perfectly understandable--you are not alone. This is where Safety Training Services can help!

Your next step should be to identify these issues. Have you found them to be problems in training (or lack thereof)? Or retraining (annual refresher courses)? Unsatisfied with previous training/trainers? Remember, ignorance is bliss....until you get a visit from OSHA. 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 trained consistent to OSHA requirements.

Maybe your issue is equipment? Whether you need new, used, rentals, servicing or just to figure out what equipment to use for a specific job, speaking to one of our professionals in our Technical division will help you find the right tool for the job in whatever capacity necessary. 

Or simply contact our safety consulting division at (219) 554-2180 and found out how we will help identify problems and conduct a safety-related gap analysis for your company. 

Falls & Workplace Safety

According to OSHA's commonly used statistics, the leading cause of worker's deaths on construction sites were falls. In fact, 35% of total deaths in the field of construction for CY 2011 were from falls.

It is also OSHA's number two most frequently cited standard violation in FY 2011 (29 CFR 1926.501).

How can falls be reduced?

First, we must look at how OSHA requirements help with reducing these accidents. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces and six feet in the construction industry. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

OSHA requires employers to provide working conditions that are free of known dangers. The company must provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers. Floors in work areas must be kept clean and dry (as much as possible). 

(Quoted from OSHA's website):

To prevent employees from being injured from falls, employers must:

• Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover).
• Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway.
• Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt) employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling and getting injured.
• Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety and harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails.

OSHA wants to help reduce (hopefully eliminate) these accidents, and Safety Training Services, Inc. is here to facilitate as well.

Contacttoday and let us help you by providing "Real Experience. Real Training. Real Results."

Safety Training--Why So Important?

September is National Preparedness Month, but we here at Safety Training Services, Inc. feel it is important to speak briefly about the importance of training at any date, especially in the workplace.

Merriam-Webster defines "training" as the skill, knowledge or experience acquired by one that trains. Specifically, "safety training" is for employees or even individuals working within the industrial and/or construction industries. 

OSHA states that education and training provides employers, managers, supervisors, and workers with:

• Knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others at risk.
• Awareness and understanding of workplace hazards and how to identify, report, and control them.
• Specialized training, when their work involves unique hazards.

Many in these industries utilize equipment that has associated hazards intrinsic to its' use.

For example, forklifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, even ladders, scaffolds or powered hand tools; just to name a few. Employee safety training is the necessary action or preventative action in order to instruct and teach your employee about the hazards and provide them the correct OSHA policies and procedures to stay safe while operating the machine or tool within the workplace. 

 Specifically, there are many benefits to training:

• Statistically, less accidents!
• Increased efficiency & productivity
• Improves employee morale
• Less time/manpower wasted on supervision and/or micromanagement

National Preparedness Month was created in 2004 and occurs every September.

It was created by the U.S. Government, sponsored by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) under the Department of Homeland Security, to remind citizens to prepare for emergencies at home, work and within their communities. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, Hurricane Katrina and other devastating natural disasters, the U.S. Government has realized the importance of its citizens to be prepared to survive and respond during emergencies.

A large part of the initiative is to have extra supplies, survival gear and medical supplies. However, it is important to remember that we must train to fully be prepared for an emergency.

Having been in the fire service for the last 18 years, I recall the massive amount of training we had to do before we could be ready to answer emergency calls. I like the military idea of "train like you fight, fight like you train." The importance of training with your survival gear or receiving first aid medical training can't be understated.

So as we move through September and therefore move through National Preparedness Month, remember to train for and be ready to survive or respond to emergencies. Always remember the best tools and equipment are useless in untrained hands.