OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for FY 2013
The National Safety Council recently released a preliminary compilation of OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in the 2013 fiscal year.
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The National Safety Council recently released a preliminary compilation of OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in the 2013 fiscal year:
1. Fall Protection (1926.501) – 8,241
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) – 6,156
3. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 5,423
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 3,879
5. Electrical: Wiring Methods (1910.305) – 3,452
6. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) – 3,340
7. Ladders (1926.1053) – 3,311
8. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) – 3,254
9. Electrical: General Requirements (1910.303) – 2,745
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212) – 2,701
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Scaffolding, respiratory protection and ladders are the least likely to be found in precision machining shops. The remaining standards are key to maintaining a safe workplace and injury-free workforce in our shops.
Fall Protection: Pay special attention to housekeeping on walking working surfaces. Also, keep floors and aisles free of debris. Winter weather conditions can add additional risk. Compliance in this area will only increase in priority as our workforce ages.
Hazard Communication: In December, you must train your employees to the new Globally Harmonized Standard for Hazard Communications. They will need to learn new format for symbols as well as new content. We see this as an area for high awareness in the coming year. Link to: short.productionmachining.com/EM6ONTLA.
Electrical Wiring Methods: With all of the electrical power used in our shops, this needs to be a foundation of our best practices. Assure grounding compliance. Avoid and eliminate temporary wiring and eliminate the use of flexible extension cords.
Powered Industrial Trucks: Are your people trained? Are only trained personnel operating? Is all equipment adequately equipped with needed safety equipment? Is that equipment operable or has it been disconnected (back-up horns and strobes?)
Lockout/Tagout: Proper de-energization of powered equipment is an area for particular attention in our industry. We have heard of some OSHA inspectors not being familiar with the criteria from the Kershaw Letter. See our blog here.
Electrical General Requirements: It has been my experience that the most common failure under this requirement is the maintenance of clear working space: “Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.” 1910.303(g)(1) That means nothing in front of panels and switches.
Machine Guarding: Actually, this is the regulation that requires “Anchoring fixed machinery. Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.” 1910.212(b)
