According to OSHA, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the 10 most frequently cited standards on worksites included falls, respiratory protection issues, industrial truck accidents, and machinery issues, most of which occur at construction sites. These types of accidents can lead to severe, if not catastrophic injuries, and sometimes result in fatalities. Even in the best scenarios, the injured person could be rendered unable to work for days, weeks or even months, or their injury could prevent them from returning to the same type of work again. So, what do we do with this data?
Because these injuries can be so serious, it’s extremely important to determine what the most frequently cited standards are, and how they occur. Once armed with this information, you’ll be better equipped to prevent injuries from occurring.
The most frequently cited OSHA standards in 2018 are as follows:
- Fall protection issues in construction
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolding issues in construction
- Respiratory protection
- Control of hazardous energy
- Ladder issues in construction
- Powered industrial trucks
- Fall protection as it pertains to training requirements
- Machinery and machine guarding issues
- Eye and face protection
Construction Site OSHA Violations
As you can see, many of the most cited standards occur in the construction industry, a notoriously dangerous business. Construction sites are full of big vehicles, complex machines, heavy materials, and unstable ground and structures, which makes it an extremely hazardous place to work.
Other Common OSHA Violations
Along with construction work, other citations included poor hazard communication, which can prevent teams from notifying one another of possible dangers. Industrial truck issues account for a significant number of citations, as do issues with poor or inadequate machinery guards. The lack of adequate, or applicable, fall protection training brings to question the negligence of the employer, as does the issue with eye and face protection citations. If employers don’t provide the adequate tools, training, and safety measures, they could be liable for any harm their workers suffer as a result.
Unfortunately, this list only accounts for the most frequent citations—there are several other reasons for catastrophic, deadly workplace accidents, and many are preventable. If you were injured in an accident mentioned above, or another similar workplace accident, make sure you know your legal options.
At Hendershot Cowart , P.C. we are committed to fighting for justice and compensation on behalf of our clients, and if you were injured at work, we want to help you obtain the recompense you need and deserve. Call (713) 783-3110 today.
