Top 10 OSHA citations of 2014

by John E. Hall

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most-violated standards for fiscal year (FY) 2014 were recently announced at the National Safety Council Congress and Expo in San Diego, California. Once again, there were few surprises. Employers would be wise to assess their efforts to comply with the 10 identified standards. 

In the familiar position of number one on the list was 29 CFR 1926.501, OSHA’s requirements for fall protection in construction. The standard requires employees to use fall protection while working at heights over six feet.

Second on OSHA’s most-violated list was 29 CFR 1910.1200, the agency’s hazard communication standard. It requires that (1) hazardous materials be properly labeled, (2) safety data sheets be made available, and (3) employees be properly trained on hazardous materials.

The third-most-violated standard in FY 2014 was 29 CFR 1926.451, a construction industry standard addressing platform planking access and railings. 29 CFR 1910.134, a general industry standard addressing respiratory protection, was fourth on the list.

The fifth-most-violated standard in FY 2014 pertained to lockout/tagout hazards. 29 CFR 1910.147 requires employers to have a program to help ensure that equipment does not activate while employees are in harm’s way.

Number six on OSHA’s most-violated standards list was 29 CFR 1910.178, which addresses safety requirements for operating powered industrial trucks. Defective equipment, poor maintenance, operator training and certification mistakes, and unsafe operation were the leading citations.

The seventh-most-violated standard in FY 2014 was 29 CFR 1910.305, which addresses electrical wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use. An example of a citation is a flexible cord or cable that is not protected from being damaged. Violations for unsafe conditions or use of ladders were eighth on the list.

Violations of 29 CFR 1910.212, the machine guard standard, were ninth. Violations of that standard are often cited as serious infractions, and violations are often associated with serious, if not fatal, accidents.

The 10th-most-violated standard in FY 2014 was 29 CFR 1910.303, an electrical standard often cited for a lack of marking, labeling, or guarding of electrical equipment and circuits.

John E. Hall is the OSHA consultant for Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C. Before working with the firm, he was the OSHA area director and worked for 29 years with the agency in training and compliance programs, investigations, enforcement actions, and setting OSHA priorities. He may be contacted at jhall@lehrmiddlebrooks.com .