OSHA’s reported 116 fatalities and 7,270 violations due to falls or lack of fall protection in the US in 2018. Of the 116 reported fatalities 71 cases resulted in a citation being issued.

Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented preliminary data for OSHA’s Top 10 most-cited violations for fiscal year 2018, which ended Sept. 30. Where Kevin Druley, associate editor for S+H Magazine, moderated the session.

 

“The Top 10 represents the most frequently cited standards, and they are a good place to start for the employer in identifying hazards in their own workplace,” Kapust said during the presentation

See the full list below:

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 7,270 violations
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 4,552
3. Scaffolding (1926.451): 3,336
4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 3,118
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,944
6. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,812
7. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 2,294
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,982
9. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,972
10. Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,536

“Knowing how workers are hurt can go a long way toward keeping them safe,” NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said in an Oct. 23 press release. “The OSHA Top 10 list calls out areas that require increased vigilance to ensure everyone goes home safely each day.”

 

The following references from OSHA aid in recognizing and evaluating fall protection hazards in the workplace https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/evaluation.html.

 

Safety Advantage also offers fall protection training and Target Safety fall protection training. Training to prevent fall hazards before the work begins will help the employer to manage these hazards and focus attention on prevention efforts before an accident occurs.