2023 Vision and OSHA Top 10 Violations
We all want our team members to go home healthy and uninjured at the end of the day. As you establish your 2023 ESH plan and goals, stop and visualize what a safe and healthy work environment would look like. Then build your goals around that vision. Besides the trend analysis with your OSHA 300, perhaps assess your status around the Top 10 OSHA safety violations from fiscal 2022. Many of these topics have been in the top 10 for years, so isn’t it time to implement a strong program and make sure you are not vulnerable for a citation in these areas?
- Fall Protection – If you have team members working at greater than 4’ in general industry or greater than 6’ in construction, this standard applies to you!
- Hazard Communication – If you handle or use any type of chemical, you must have a written program, provide training, and maintain SDS and labels.
- Ladders – This common tool is often used improperly. Be familiar with the safe way to use a ladder to prevent falls as outlined in this regulation and by the manufacturer.
- Respiratory Protection – This can be a difficult standard to understand. If your team members use dust masks or any other type of respirator, there are requirements for selection, medical clearance and training.
- Scaffolding – Proper scaffolding installations are critical to prevent falls.
- Lockout/Tagout – This broad standard requires equipment specific procedures, training, and periodic inspections, designed to prevent injuries around equipment during adjustments and maintenance.
- Powered Industrial Trucks – Regular inspections and repair are critical to prevent equipment failures. Proper training and enforcement of safe operation is also necessary to prevent injuries.
- Fall Protection – Training requirements: Employees must be able to recognize the hazards of fall protection and properly utilize protective measures.
- Personal Protective Equipment – Eye and face protection: Appropriate protection must be provided and utilized, based on a task hazard analysis.
- Machine Guarding – The equipment operator is responsible for making sure that employees cannot access the point of operation (i.e., nip points and rotating parts.) A machine guarding ruler is a valuable resource for assessing equipment.
If you are concerned about your understanding of any of these regulations, give us a call and we’ll talk you through it. We also offer training on many of these topics.