On Safety: A closer look at OSHA ‘Top 10’ violations – Part V
For the construction of buildings industry, a total of 6,276 violations were issued, of which 4,871 were cited as serious. The top violations were:
| Rank | OSHA standard | No. of violations | Standard description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1926.501(b)(13) | 557 | Residential Construction – Lack of Edge Guarding on Edges 6 Feet or More Above Lower Level |
| 2 | 1926.501(b)(1) | 264 | Residential Construction – Lack of Leading Edge Guarding 6 Feet or More Above the Lower Level |
| 3 | 1926.451(g)(2) | 206 | Scaffolding – Lack of a Competent Person Checking on the Scaffolding |
| 4 | 1926.503(a)(1) | 192 | Lack of Training on Fall Hazards |
| 5 | 1926.20(b)(2) | 185 | Failure to Conduct Frequent and Regular Inspections of the Jobsite |
| 6 | 1926.453(b)(2) | 183 | Aerial Lifts – Extensions and Booms |
| 7 | 1926.1053(b)(1) | 175 | Portable Ladders Not Extending at Least 3 Feet Above the Roofline |
| 8 | 1926.102(a)(1) | 157 | Failure to Provide/Use Eye Protection |
| 9 | 1926.1052(c)(1) | 126 | Stairways – Lack of Railing on Stairs with Four or More Risers |
| 10 | 1926.451(b)(1) | 106 | Scaffolding – Scaffolds Not Fully Planked |
As for the standards cited, the clear standout is the number of violations related to fall protection, which is also the No. 1 cited hazard in the construction industry.
The top OSHA violations in FY 2020 for the furniture-related products manufacturing industry are listed below. For this industry, a total of 1,376 violations were issued, of which 1,059 were cited as serious.
| Rank | OSHA standard | No. of violations | Standard description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1910.1200(e)(1) | 65 | Hazard Communication – Lack of a Written Program |
| 2 | 1910.134(e)(1) | 48 | Respiratory Protection – Failure to Provide Medical Evaluation |
| 3 | 1910.1200(h)(1) | 40 | Hazard Communication – Lack of Employee Training and Education |
| 4 | 1910.134(c)(1) | 34 | Respiratory Protection – Lack of a Written Program |
| 1910.212(a)(1) | 34 | Machine Guarding – General Machine Guarding | |
| 1910.213(c)(1) | 34 | Machine guarding – Lack of Guarding on Rip (Circular Saws) | |
| 7 | 1910.147(c)(4) | 33 | Lockout/Tagout – Lack of Written Energy Control Procedures |
| 8 | 1910.22(a)(1) | 26 | Sanitation – Places of Employment Were Not Kept Clean and Sanitary |
| 9 | 1910.134(c)(2) | 25 | Respiratory Protection – Voluntary Use of Respirators |
| 10 | 1910.213(c)(23) | 22 | Machine Guarding – Rip (circular saw) Used Without a Spreader |
| 10 | 1910.213(c)(3) | 22 | Machine Guarding – Rip (circular saw) Used Without Kickback Fingers |
Most of the top cited violations for this industry centered around machine guarding issues. Part VI of this series will include the top violations in FY 2020 for three other industries – yet to be named.
This article represents the views of the authors and should not be construed as a National Safety Council endorsement.
Richard Fairfax (CIH, retired 2017) joined OSHA in January 1978 and retired from the agency in 2013. At OSHA, he was a practicing field industrial hygienist, as well as the deputy director and director of enforcement programs. In 2008, Richard served as acting director of construction and, in 2010, was designated deputy assistant secretary – overseeing all field, enforcement and training operations. From 1993 through 2010, Richard wrote an industrial hygiene column entitled, “OSHA Compliance Issues” for the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. He still serves on the Editorial Review Board. Richard now works part time for NSC-ORC HSE.
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