Leverage OSHA’s top 10 violations to reduce safety risks
Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases its list of the most frequently cited violations for their fiscal year.
Below are the top 10 most frequently cited violations FY23 (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023).
1. Fall Protection – construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
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2. Hazard Communication – general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
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3. Ladders – construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
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4. Scaffolding – construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
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5. Powered Industrial Trucks – general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
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6. Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) – general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
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7. Respiratory Protection – general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
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8. Fall Protection Training – construction (29 CFR 1926.503)
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9. Eye and Face Protection – construction (29 CFR 1926.102)
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10. Machinery and Machine Guarding – general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
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Employers who know and understand OSHA’s most cited violations can use the list as a tool to:
- Implement proactive safety measures: By knowing which violations are most common, employers can proactively focus their efforts on those areas. Emphasis in these areas can help prevent injuries and illnesses, which can be costly in terms of worker compensation claims, lost productivity, and potential fines.
- Identify training gaps: Employers can improve and create even more targeted training. For example, if fall protection is a common violation, employers can emphasize those areas and the use of proper fall protection equipment and following safety procedures when working at heights.
- Prepare themselves for an inspection: Employers who familiarize themselves with the top violations can better prepare themselves for an agency inspection. Addressing potential hazards ahead of time enables employers to reduce the likelihood of citations and fines.
- Improve workplace safety culture: Focusing on the high-risk areas listed demonstrates a commitment to safety from the top down, leading to a more vigilant workforce and a safer overall work environment.
OSHA’s top-10 list is a convenient way to quantify the agency’s enforcement efforts, demonstrate year-over-year trends, and highlight key areas for employers to address in order to avoid violations and fines. But, as any safety-minded employer knows, the top-10 list, and the hazards it highlights, only scratches the surface of workplace safety and health. Employers that are truly committed to excellent safety performance need to look beyond compliance and focus on creating and sustaining a strong culture of safety. Compliance is a necessary starting point, but employers should strive to protect their workers from harm as an end in itself, not only to avoid violations.
