OSHA Safety Violations in 2015 & Tips on How to Avoid Them in 2016



In order for business owners to prevent accidents in the workplace, it is important that they know the top OSHA safety violations in 2015, and how they can avoid them.

Fall Protection

osha-safety-violationsWhen an employee falls in the workplace, it can lead to serious injuries. If the employees are working at heights, it is important that they take a safety at heights class. They should also be using the proper safety gear, while working at heights.
It is also important to protect employees working on the ground. If there is any type of spill, a sign should be placed by the spill along with an orange safety cone to block off the entire area.

Hazard Communication

New changes to OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard require that chemical manufacturers not only put the information about the hazardous chemicals on the label, they must also prepare safety data sheets in a specific form. When the Hazard Communication Standard is not followed, it can result in serious chemical burns. It is important that all people working with hazardous chemicals follow the standard to the letter to prevent an accident.

Scaffolding

OSHA has certain requirements when it comes to scaffolding. If the scaffolding does not meet OSHA's standards, it can result in a serious, deadly fall. Not only should the requirements be followed when assembling the scaffolding, it should also be routinely inspected.

Respiratory Protection

OSHA requires that people who work around diseases caused by breathing contaminated air, harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors should always use a respirator. Often times, employees can become lax with these measures. When they do, it can result is serious, even deadly respirator problems. Employees should always use the necessary equipment when working with anything hazardous in the air.

Lockout/Tagout

This refers to employees working with hazardous energy. Energy sources, such as mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other sources in machines and equipment can be very dangerous to workings. When they are maintaining and servicing machines and equipment, an unexpected start up or release of stored energy can result in a very serious injury to the worker, or death. It is important that employees require their employees to abide by OSHA's Lockout/Tagout standards.

Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA has safety requirements when it comes to fire protection design, and the maintenance of a variety of powered trucks, including fork trucks, platform lifts, motorized hand trucks, and any other industrial truck that is powered by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. It is important that employees always follow these requirements to prevent any power truck related accidents on the job.

Ladders

OSHA has specific standards for ladders. The maximum load can only be so heavy, depending on the type of ladder being used. It is important that employees are familiar with the standards for all types of ladders, and they always follow OSHA's standards.

In order for business owners to avoid the above violations, it is important that they educate their employees on OSHA's standards, and make sure that their employees are always following these standards. If not, it can result in a violation upon inspection or after a very serious accident has occurred.