EHS Insider Blog

OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for 2013

Written by Client Development Team | Feb 11, 2014 4:40:00 PM

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced their top 10 list for the most frequently cited workplace-safety violations for FY 2013. The number one most cited violation was fall protection.

There has been a significant increase in the total number of violations from FY 2012 to FY 2013. 

The complete top 10 list of most frequently cited workplace-safety violations for 2013 follows:

1. Fall Protection: 8,241 violations

  • Covering holes

  • Protection of open sides and edges

  • Preventing falls from roofs

2. Hazard Communication: 6,156 violations

  • No written program

  • Provide adequate employee education and training

  • Properly label containers / lack of any label

  • Access to material-safety data sheets

3. Scaffolding: 5,423 violations

  • Problems with scaffold construction

  • Improper access to scaffolding surfaces

  • Lack of guardrails

4. Respiratory Protection: 3,879 violations

  • No written respiratory-protection program

  • Poor fit-test procedures

  • Unsuitable respirator-selection process

  • Procedures to voluntarily use respirators

SEE: OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for 2014

5. Electrical (wiring): 3,452 violations

  • Flexible cords and cables

  • Boxes and temporary wiring

  • improper use of extension cords

  • Use of temporary wiring as permanent wiring

6. Powered Industrial Trucks: 3,340 violations

  • Inadequate operator training

  • Inadequate refresher training

  • Condition of trucks when returned to service after repair

7. Ladders: 3,311 violations

  • Damaged side rails

  • Using top ladder step

  • Ladder not suitable for the job

  • Excessive loads on ladders

8. Lockout / Tagout: 3,254 violations

  • Poor or no energy-control procedures

  • Inadequate worker training

  • Incomplete inspections

9. Electrical (general): 2,745 violations

  • Electric shock

  • Electrocution exposures

10. Machine Guarding: 2,701 violations

  • Point-of-operation exposures

  • Inadequate or no anchoring of fixed machinery

  • Exposure to blades