OSHA’s Top 10 Hazards

Every year, OSHA performs thousands of worksite inspections to confirm that employers are following safety regulations to prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths. They issue citations when they discover a standard that is not being met.

These are the ten most-cited standards of 2023:

1. Fall Protection

   Industry: Construction
   Companies are required to provide fall protection systems when walking and working surfaces are 6 feet or more above the next level. Holes in the walking or working surface should be covered and surrounded by fall arrest system or guardrails. Companies must also prevent injuries from falling objects using canopies and barricades.
   
   Additional Reading: 9 Types of Fall Protection on Work Sites

2. Hazard Communication

   Industry: General Industry
   Companies must communicate hazard information about chemicals produced, used, or stored in the workplace. These communications can be made through container labels and warnings, safety data sheets (SDSs), and employee training.

3. Ladders

   Industry: Construction
   Ladders must be well-maintained and used correctly, on steady surfaces with appropriate footwear. Companies should immediately dispose of damaged or defective ladders.
   
   Additional Reading: How to Use a Ladder Safely

4. Scaffolding

   Industry: Construction
   Scaffolds must be capable of supporting their own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load. Employers must ensure that the scaffold is constructed correctly by a trained employee, with anti-tipping protections.

5. Powered Industrial Trucks

   Industry: General Industry
   Any company that uses specialized industrial trucks (including fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, and motorized hand trucks) must implement safety programs for the fire protection, design, maintenance, and use of the equipment. Additionally, all operators must be trained. NJM Business Insurance policyholders can request a safety presentation on Powered Industrial Truck Safety Awareness.

6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)

   Industry: General Industry
   Companies must ensure that employees will not be injured by a machine unexpectedly starting up or releasing energy while performing maintenance or service on it. Lockout and tagout devices disable pieces of equipment to allow employees to interact safely with them.

7. Respiratory Protection

   Industry: General Industry
   Companies have a duty to protect the respiratory health of employees by preventing atmospheric contamination of harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors. When prevention is not possible, the employer must provide a well-maintained, situationally appropriate respirator to each employee who is exposed to the hazard.

8. Fall Protection Training

   Industry: Construction
   Employers must train all workers at risk of falls to recognize and minimize the hazard. Training should include the procedures for setting up, using, and inspecting fall protection systems. NJM Business Insurance policyholders can access NJM’s Video Training Library for 24/7 access to streaming videos in English and Spanish.

9. Eye and Face Protection

   Industry: Construction
   Employers are required to provide eye and face protection when workers are exposed to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or light radiation. The eye protection should contain side shields and accommodate employees who use prescription lenses.
   
   Additional Reading: This Blog Is Brought to You by Your Ears 

10. Machinery and Machine Guarding

    Industry: General Industry
    When a worker is at risk of injury from the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, or flying chips or sparks from a machine, the company must install guards that keep body parts out of the danger zone. Machine guards can include barriers, two-hand tripping devices, and electronic safety devices.

Sources

“Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for Fiscal Year 2023” (May 7, 2024). Occupational Health and Safety Administration. osha.gov