TOP OSHA Citations by Industry

OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a government agency that enforces workplace safety regulations in the United States. One of their primary functions is to conduct inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with these regulations. When violations are found, OSHA can issue citations and penalties. In this blog post, we will explore the top OSHA citations by high-risk industry.

 

Construction Industry:

The construction industry is one of the highest-risk industries for workplace injuries and fatalities. The top OSHA citations for the construction industry include fall protection, scaffolding, and ladders. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for about one-third of all fatalities. OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection equipment and training to all employees working at heights of six feet or more. Scaffolding and ladder violations typically involve inadequate or improper use of the equipment, which can lead to falls or other injuries.

Manufacturing Industry:

The manufacturing industry also has a high rate of workplace injuries and fatalities. The top OSHA citations for this industry include hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout), machine guarding, and respiratory protection. Hazardous energy control refers to procedures used to ensure that machinery or equipment is de-energized and cannot be started up accidentally during maintenance or servicing. Failure to properly control hazardous energy can result in serious injuries or death. Machine guarding violations typically involve inadequate or missing guards on machinery, which can result in workers being caught in or struck by moving parts. Respiratory protection violations often involve failure to properly fit, use, or maintain respiratory protection equipment, which can result in respiratory illness or injury.

Transportation Industry:

The transportation industry includes a variety of businesses, from trucking companies to airlines to public transportation providers. The top OSHA citations for this industry include powered industrial trucks (forklifts), hazard communication, and fall protection. Forklift violations typically involve inadequate training or use of the equipment, which can result in serious injuries or death. Hazard communication violations in transportation often involve failure to properly label hazardous materials being transported or failure to provide adequate information about the hazards of the materials. Fall protection violations in transportation typically involve working at heights, such as on top of a truck or bus, without proper fall protection equipment or training.

Healthcare Industry:

The healthcare industry is not typically thought of as a high-risk industry, but it has its share of workplace hazards. The top OSHA citations for this industry include bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication, and respiratory protection. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms that can be transmitted through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. OSHA requires that employers provide training and protective equipment to employees who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Hazard communication violations often involve failure to properly label hazardous materials or provide employees with adequate information about the hazards of the materials they are working with. Respiratory protection violations in healthcare typically involve failure to provide employees with appropriate respiratory protection equipment when working with infectious or hazardous materials.

 

Workplace safety is essential for all industries, but some industries are inherently more hazardous than others. OSHA citations can help employers identify areas of their operations where they need to improve safety practices and procedures. The top OSHA citations by high-risk industry are just a few examples of the types of hazards that workers face every day. Employers must take steps to protect their workers from these hazards, including providing training, appropriate equipment, and clear communication about the risks they face on the job. Schedule a one-time or regularly-reoccurring site audit today with Safety Plus or sign up for SafetyPlusWeb to help identify and correct safety hazards before they become another costly OSHA citation.

Recommended Reading

Image of a construction worker precariously up high without fall protection gear staring at the caption "Staying Off OSHA's Severe Violator List"

Staying off OSHA’s SVL (Severe Violator List)

Sep 6, 2023

Staying off of OSHA’s Severe Violator List is important for any business to maintain a safe work environment and avoid costly penalties. The Severe Violator List (SVL) is a program launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to focus on employers who have committed severe or repeated violations of workplace safety regulations. Being…

Tired construction worker in a safety vest, header image for "Consequences of a High EMR (Experience Modifier Rating)"

Consequences of a High EMR

Aug 23, 2023

Experience Modification Rating (EMR) is a term used in the construction industry to measure the safety performance of a company. The EMR is calculated by comparing the company’s actual workers’ compensation claims experience to the expected claims experience for similar companies in the same industry. A high EMR means that a company has higher than…

Top Safety Violations in Manufacturing, worker lighting a cigarette under exposed wire and sparks.

Top 10 Safety Violations in Manufacturing

Aug 9, 2023

Manufacturing is an industry that requires strict adherence to safety regulations to ensure the health and well-being of employees, as well as the quality of the products produced. Unfortunately, there are still too many safety violations that occur in the manufacturing industry – causing billions of dollars in irreparable and tragic incidents. Here are the…

heat safety and prevention

Beating the Heat: Safeguarding Workers’ Health and Safety in Rising Temperatures

Jul 28, 2023

As temperatures continue to rise, heat-related illnesses have become a growing concern for both workers and employers. Working in extreme heat conditions poses significant risks to the health and safety of employees, making it essential for employers to take proactive measures to prevent heat-related illnesses. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of…

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SIMPLIFIED

Prevent Tragedy and Scale Effectively by Making Safe Work Efficient