The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released their annual Top 10 workplace safety violations list. The top spot on the list is once again fall protection-general requirements.
These requirements apply to construction workers and include numerous provisions for walkways/working surfaces six feet or more above a lower level. The provisions apply to areas such as:
- Walkways, ramps and working surfaces
- Unprotected sides or edges
- Leading edges
- Holes and skylights
- Excavation sites
- Hoist areas
- Locations near dangerous or heavy equipment
The general requirements call for worker protection in these situations that include personal fall arrest gear, guardrails and safety nets, depending on the specifics of the location.
The other top four most often cited violations are:
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolding issues
- Lack of respiratory protection
- Lockout/tagout procedures
To see the entire list, please click here.
Construction workers are not the only people who need safety measures and procedures on the job. These top-cited safety violations can also affect workers such as truck drivers, roofers, painters, electricians and people who work with industrial equipment or machinery.
The list is meant to be used
The president and CEO of the National Safety Council reminds people that this list has a purpose, calling it a “blueprint for keeping workers safe.” Employers need to take these findings seriously, addressing them as appropriate for their workplace. Many accidents and injuries could be prevented if employers put their workers first and followed the OSHA guidelines.
