Keep employees safe to avoid top violations, heavy OSHA fines

Each of the top 10 highest penalties issued by OSHA in 2010 topped $1 million. Agency officials say the latest Top 10 list of the most frequently cited violations should put employers on notice that they need to take prevention seriously.

OSHA's Top 10 most frequently cited violations were:

1.Scaffolding -- general requirements; aims to protect construction workers from falls and falling objects while working on or near scaffolding at heights of 10 feet or more.

Updated information sought to protect tunnel workers (02/04/13)
Redesigning, rotating may reduce musculoskeletal disorders (02/04/13)
Technological advancements allow manikins to test protective clothing (02/04/13)
Extremely hot weather prompts statement from Labor Secretary (08/01/11)
Try weekly plan to increase safety, decrease workplace injuries (04/19/12)

2.Fall protection -- general requirements; designed to protect employees on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge above 6 feet.

3.Hazard communication -- addresses chemical hazards and the communication of them to workers.

4.Respiratory protection -- directs employers in establishing/maintaining a respiratory protection program.

5.Ladders -- general requirements for all ladders.

6.Lockout/tagout -- addresses the control of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment.

7.Electrical -- wiring methods; deals with the grounding of electrical equipment, wiring, and insulation.

8.Powered industrial trucks; covers the design, maintenance, and operation of powered industrial trucks.

9.Electrical -- general requirements; deals with general safety requirements for designing electrical systems.

10.Machine guarding -- general requirements; covers guarding of machinery to protect operators and other employees from hazards.

The top penalties proposed by OSHA in FY 2010 included:

$81.3 million against BP Products North America after a follow-up inspection to a 2005 refinery explosion in Texas City, Texas, that killed 15 people and injured 170 others.OSHA said the company had agreed to a settlement after the incident but failed to eliminate potential hazards.
$16.62 million against O&G Industries and several other companies for an explosion at a power plant construction site in Middletown, Conn., that killed six people.
$3.07 million against Whitesell Corp. An employee's hand amputation triggered an initial OSHA inspection at the company's facility in Tuscumbia, Ala., which led to an expanded inspection of an operation in Muscle Shoals.
$3.04 million against BP-Husky Refining LLC in Oregon, Ohio, triggered by a National Emphasis Program follow-up inspection.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

February 17, 2011

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