Ten For Safety: 10 Common Hazards Your Business Might Face

Protect yourself from construction’s top killer — a long fall!

Through the construction industry, people literally build the foundations of modern society and economy. But construction is no lightweight craft. The risks construction workers face on the job are myriad; some of those dangers are even deadly.

That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which pays careful attention to every accident report and enforces safety standards, regularly releases its own safety statistics. OSHA standards set the tone for safety compliance, and making sure your sites and worker practices are in line with regulations isn’t just a good idea — it’s the law!

Check out the top ten OSHA violations, which are the most widely held potential causes of injury or fatal accidents in the country. When it comes to safety compliance, knowing which dangers your business should look out for helps you decide which items you need to invest in. Whether they are fall protection equipment or hazcom labels, it pays to know what your needs are.

Here are the ten most commonly cited violations of OSHA standards in Fiscal Year 2013 (October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013):

Hook up and secure your line before you start working!

1. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501) – Fall protection was cited as the most common cause of fatal injury in the construction industry. Secure your workers against long falls with harnesses and other fall protection gear.
2. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) – Hazard communication standards are numerous and, sometimes, even conflicting. Study regulations carefully and consult your safety officers and local authorities to ensure you pass your hazcom compliance evaluation.
3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) – When dealing with temporary structures such as scaffolding, it’s easy to fall prey to taking shortcuts or overlooking important procedures. Conduct regular inspections and safety training to make sure your workers are diligent in all aspects of construction.
4. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) – Respiratory protection is easy to overlook but can have dire consequences for the long-term health of your workers, as well as for medical and insurance costs. Be methodical and comprehensive when enforcing respiratory protection rules and ensuring your workers are properly equipped and trained.
5. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305) – Electrical wiring and infrastructure can pose a costly and dangerous hazard, as exposed wires or substandard components can cause fire or result in electrocution injuries. They can also damage the experience of those who would use an improperly maintained facility or work site.
6. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) – Industrial trucks are among the most powerful — and potentially dangerous — machines in any industry. Safety and proper procedure is of utmost importance when managing trucks and truck traffic within your grounds and parking facilities.
7. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) – It’s all too easy to underestimate or simply be unaware of proper ladder safety. This can prove fatal for the unprepared, so ensure that your workers always practice safety protocol and commonsense methods to secure people who use ladders from harm.
8. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) – Machines such as oil refining and drilling equipment can be highly dangerous even after they’ve been used and powered down. Train equipment operators and employees who work near such equipment about machine safety procedures and lock-out/tag-out protocol.
9. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303) – This covers electrical systems at the design and installation stage. Always make sure the electrical systems your facility maintain (and new ones to be installed) are free of potential hazards. Renovation to meet OSHA standards can be costly.
10. Machinery and machine guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212) – Machine guards are essential parts of a machine because they preserve the safety of the operator and of bystanders. Never remove or modify a machine guard in ways that would violate safety.

These are just the ten most common violations of OSHA requirements. There are many more in the agency’s database, surely, but it’s these that you should be especially aware of if you intend to keep your workers and your compliance status “all-green”!

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Editor’s Note: Do you have your own experience with any of the top ten OSHA violations? Share your story with the Emedco community!