Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations

Keeping employees safe and healthy is one of the most important elements in running a successful business. Oregon law requires employers to maintain a safe and healthy work environment, but it can be a complicated process to keep up with everything that's required—just ask the several hundred Oregon employers who receive citations from Oregon OSHA each year.

We know employers don't start the year planning to receive a citation from OR-OSHA, and yet it happens year after year in workplaces throughout Oregon. But it doesn't need to be that way. Compliance officers aren't going out to workplaces hoping to find violations so they can write a citation; instead, their overarching desire is to help make workplaces safer.

As we list the top 10 most frequently cited violations for 2005 (the most current statistics available), our goal isn't to simply help you avoid getting a citation—we're focused on helping you strengthen your overall safety process so you can protect your valuable employees.

1) Failure to provide adequate fall protection heads the list. Falls from elevation remain one of the top sources of serious injuries and fatalities, so OR-OSHA inspections will closely examine your company's ability to protect workers from fall hazards. Make sure your employees are provided with and use required fall protection devices and that adequate guardrails are installed in all elevated work areas.

2) A written hazard communication program is an essential element for every company. Keep a careful inventory of chemicals and a notebook containing manufacturer-provided Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all the chemicals you use. Also be sure to label all chemicals appropriately, and train all of your employees on the relevant OR-OSHA standards and risks present in your workplace.

3) Safety committees are required for businesses with 11 or more employees (and smaller businesses under certain circumstances). Safety committees ensure that your employees play an active role in identifying and correcting workplace hazards. Who better to involve in your safety process than the people who are working most closely with your tools and equipment.

4)OR-OSHA requires employers to conduct a written hazard assessment on a regular basis. You can't effectively protect your employees from workplace injuries and illnesses if you haven't taken the time to identify potential hazards.

5) Another common mistake is failing to train employees on the proper operation of equipment. Simply asking employees if they know how to operate your equipment is not sufficient. Many will answer "yes" to try to be seen in a favorable light. Be sure to provide comprehensive training and then have employees demonstrate their ability to use the equipment.

6) Guards are often not adjusted properly on abrasive wheel grinders. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your equipment's guarding requirements and to provide your employees with appropriate personal protective equipment to avoid face and eye injuries caused by flying debris.

7) Safety committee rules require an employer to do more than simply form a safety committee. Your safety committee must meet regularly; many companies are cited for failure to do this.

8) Electrical safety is an important component of any safety program, but many employers fail to properly cover electrical junction boxes. An uncovered junction box is not only an obvious hazard, but frequently indicates that a qualified electrician did not perform the work, creating the potential for electrical shock or electrocution. Always contact a licensed electrician to assist you with electrical work.

9) Improper or missing machine guarding leads to a large number of serious or fatal injuries. Always make sure that the manufacturer's guards are in place while machinery is in operation.

10) Failure to check portable fire extinguishers on a monthly basis rounds out our top 10 list. This simple task requires only minutes each month, and can help save a life when that fire extinguisher is needed. Each extinguisher should have an inspection tag that includes a place for a monthly check.

Standards violated:                             Rank     Rank
General fall-protection requirements         1              2
Written hazard communication program    2              1
Safety committee                                    3             3
Written hazard assessment                       4             4
Safe operation of equipment training         5             15
Abrasive wheel exposure adjustment        6             5
Regular safety committee meetings          7             6
Junction box covers                                 8              7
Machine guarding                                    9             10
Portable fire extinguishers checked           10           14