When an inspector from the office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrives at your door, you do not have to be caught unprepared. First impressions do count! With the assistance of A Plus Benefits; your company can be prepared for that safety audit.

I have compiled a list of the most 10 frequently violated workplace safety standards, which I have experienced. Here they are:

1. Neglecting to have a written Hazard Communication Program. An acceptable program is comprised of a list of any dangerous chemicals in the workplace, a written policy on the labeling procedure of these containers, material data worksheets for each chemical on the list which employees can easily access, and employee training covering the OSHA standard and workplace risks.

2. Failing to provide information and training on hazardous chemicals. A written program is only the first step. You must have a program in place that informs and prepares your employees for potential chemical hazards.

3. Not protecting electrical conductors going into boxes, cabinets or fittings.

4. No electrical covers and canopies. If an inspection identifies this problem, ask a qualified electrician to fix it. In addition, you should buy a low-priced polarity checker from the hardware store and test all outlets for proper polarity (since the OSHA inspector will do so, too). If you discover some incorrect polarity—a possible shock hazard—ask a licensed electrician to fix the problem right away.

5. Tongue guards are absent or not adjusted on abrasive wheel grinders. Guards should be placed close to the wheel—within one inch. Employees operating the wheel grinders must wear safety glasses and a face shield.

6. Not using hard hats at construction sites. In addition, you must also check that your hard hats follow the specifications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

7. Insufficient protection against falls. All walking or working surfaces that are 6 feet or higher from the ground and are used by employees should be equipped with a guardrail, safety net or other system to prevent or cushion falls.

8. Not enough portable fire extinguishers. Also, train your employees on how to use such devices.

9. Improper use of flexible electrical cords. Extension cords for home use were not built to meet the demands of a business environment. Opt for heavy-duty cords and make sure they are not routed through holes in walls, ceilings or floors. Remember that these cords should not replace fixed, enclosed wiring.

10. Neglecting to list work-related injuries and illnesses in an OSHA Form 300 log. In general, companies with 11 or more workers in certain industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, communications, public utilities, wholesale trade, most retail stores and health services are required to keep these records.

MOST FREQUENTLY CITED STANDARDS IN 2008
The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2008 (Oct 2007 through Sep 2008), per www.osha.gov.

1. Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451)
2. Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
3. Hazard Communication Program (29 CFR 1910.1200)
4. Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147)
5. Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134)
6. Electrical Wiring and Equipment (29 CFR 1910.305)
7. Powered Industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)
8. Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053)
9. Machine Guarding (29 CFR 19110.212)
10. Electrical systems design (29 CFR 1910.303)

The following are the standards for which OSHA assessed the highest penalties in fiscal year 2008 (Oct 2007 through Sep 2008) per www.osha.gov.
1. Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Scaffolding (29 CFR 1926.451)
3. Electrical hazards (29 CFR 1910.307)
4. Lockout/Tagout (29 CFR 1910.147)
5. Excavations (29 CFR 1926 652)
6. Machine Guarding (29 CFR 1910.212)
7. General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act
8. Powered Industrial Trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)
9. Walking working surfaces (29 CFR 1910.22

Rick Scott is the Safety Director for A Plus Benefits, Inc.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 am and is filed under Legal, Risk Management, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.