Fall Protection Takes the Top Spot Again on OSHA's 2023 Violations List
Work-related fall protection safety violations recently topped the list of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations for the 13th year in a row nationwide, according to a recent report published by the National Safety Council (NSC).
Unfortunately, many of the same workplace safety violations appear year after year, according to NSC president and CEO Lorraine Martin.
“Although incredible advancements are made in safety each year, we continue to see many of the same types of violations appear on OSHA’s Top 10 list,” Martin said. “As a safety community, we must come together to acknowledge these persistent trends and identify solutions to better protect workers.”
Our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys at Vellner Law, PC applaud efforts to raise awareness about workplace safety violations. That’s because we strongly believe employees should never have to worry about working in unsafe conditions.
Workplace fall protection violations top OSHA list
OSHA releases its list of the top 10 workplace safety violations each year. For fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, fall protection violations were the number one violation nationwide for the 13th year in a row.
Specifically, OSHA issued 7,271 violations nationwide involving OSHA Standard 1926.501, which is officially called “Duty To Have Fall Protection” under OSHA regulations governing “Safety and Health Regulations for Construction.”
As part of this rule, companies must provide employees with protective equipment to prevent workplace falls. This is critical since work-related falls cause 200,000 injuries and 800 deaths each year on average nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
OSHA’s top workplace safety violations
Along with the failure to provide fall protection for workers, the other top 10 OSHA workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2023 involved:
- Hazard Communication – 3,213 violations of OSHA Standard 1910.1200, which requires employers to warn employees about hazardous chemicals at work.
- Ladders – 2,978 violations of OSHA 1926.1053, which states that employers must properly secure ladders before use at work, must provide functioning ladders, and not overload ladders.
- Scaffolding – 2,859 violations of OSHA 1926.451, which involves making sure scaffolding is not overloaded and properly secured, and many other scaffolding safety regulations.
- Powered Industrial Trucks – 2,561 violations of OSHA 1910.178, which requires employers to properly maintain and store specialized industrial trucks, including forklifts, platform lift trucks, and motorized hand trucks.
- Lockout/Tagout – 2,554 violations of OSHA 1910.147, which requires companies to properly store and start power generators at workplaces.
- Respiratory Protection – 2,481 violations of OSHA 1910.134, which involves providing workers with respirators if their job requires them to work with gas, vapors, dust, or hazardous substances or chemicals.
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements – 2,112 violations of OSHA 1926.503, which states that employers must provide workplace safety training to employees who work on roofs, scaffolding, or other high places where work-related falls often occur.
- Eye and Face Protection – 2,074 violations of OSHA 1926.102, which requires employers to provide workers with protective equipment for their face and eyes if they work with flying particles, liquid chemicals, molten metal, and acids.
- Machine Guarding – 1,644 violations of OSHA 1910.212, which states that companies must equip potentially dangerous machines with protective guards, such as barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, and electronic safety devices.
Contact a workers’ compensation attorney
Workers’ compensation claims in Pennsylvania can quickly turn into complicated legal cases. Sometimes, it’s because your claim was denied by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company. Other issues may also arise, such as what to do if you cannot return to work after your workplace injury.
Whatever situation you’re dealing with, our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Vellner Law, PC can help guide you through this complex legal process. We understand how Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system works. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success.
Get the law firm that puts your needs first. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney you can count on when it matters most. We have offices in Bethlehem and Allentown and represent injured workers throughout Pennsylvania.