Top 10 2018 OSHA Violations List

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its preliminary top 10 violations for 2018 in late October at the 2018 National Safety Council Congress & Expo.

These standards were the most frequently cited during OSHA’s fiscal year that ended September 30. According to OSHA, the list serves to “increase awareness of these standards so employers can take steps to find and fix the hazards to prevent injury or illness.”

Fall protection general requirement citations remained at the top of the list for the fifth straight year with 7,270 violations, the bulk of them coming from building sites, where approximately half of OSHA’s 30,000-plus fiscal year 2018 inspections occurred. OSHA fall protection standards require workers exposed to falls of six feet or more to wear protective gear such as harnesses, or to be protected by guardrails, and to be trained on how to avoid falling.

The top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations for 2018

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements: 7,270
2. Hazard Communication: 4,552
3. Scaffolding: 3,336
4. Respiratory Protection: 3,118
5. Lockout/Tagout: 2,944
6. Ladders: 2,812
7. Powered Industrial Trucks: 2,294
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements: 1,982
9. Machine Guarding: 1,972
10. Eye and Face Protection: 1,536

What Employers Should Do Now

In light of this information, now is a good time to take a look at your safety practices to prepare for the new year. This could include:

• Reviewing 2018 location accidents, investigations and follow-up actions taken to prevent future occurrences
• Evaluating your safety protocols with federal and state OSHA requirements
• Refreshing your team training regarding preventable accidents and special equipment safety requirements
• Updating your safety records

For specific questions, for safety training assistance, or for questions regarding what to do post-citation, please contact your local Marsh & McLennan Agency Safety representative.