Most Common OSHA Violations

Inadequate fall protection at construction sites tops the most common OSHA violations. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released its annual list of the most frequent regulation violations, along with the number of incidents and accidents that these violations caused. For the fourth consecutive year, construction falls top the list. The top violations reported during fiscal year 2014 are:

1. 1. Fall Protection in Construction – 7,516 total violations

1. 1. Hazard Communication – 6,148 total violations

1. 1. Scaffolding in Construction – 4,968 total violations

1. 1. Respiratory Protection – 3,843 total violations

1. 1. Powered Industrial Trucks – 3,147 total violations

1. 1. Lockout/Tagout – 3,117 total violations

1. 1. Ladders in Construction – 2,968 total violations

1. 1. Electrical Wiring Methods – 2,907 total violations

1. 1. Machine Guarding – 2,520 total violations

1. 1. Electrical General Requirements – 2,427 total violations

OSHA violations typically fall into two primary categories based on severity and cause. A “serious” violation is defined by OSHA as “one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.” A “willful” violation is defined by OSHA as one “committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and requirements.” Depending upon the cause, severity and type of violation, you may be entitled to a substantial compensation award if you suffer an injury caused or exacerbated by an OSHA violation at your workplace. Report the incident immediately, get medical treatment and contact an experienced workers compensation lawyer with Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell at 800-251-1111.