Workers in Georgia may be interested in knowing that OSHA has released a list of the top 10 most frequently occurring workplace safety violations for 2017. The most frequently cited workplace safety violations from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017, were related to the fall protection-general requirements. This has been the leading violation for the past six years.
The number of citations issued for violations pertaining to the fall protection-general requirements exceeded 6,000. For the 2017 fiscal year of the federal government, the remaining violations that were in the top five on the list included those related to hazards communications, breathing protection, lockout and tagout requirements and scaffolding.
The 10 violations on the list rarely change from year to year. The citations for fall protection training violations were new to the 2017 list. There were 1,523 citations issued to companies in 2017 for their failure to train workers on the hazards of falling and equipment. Citations also were issued for failing to train employees on the maintenance and use of fall protection equipment.
The citations most likely stemmed from the difficulties associated with complying with the requirements detailed in the Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection regulation. According to the rule, employers were required to be in compliance by May 17, 2017. The provisions for ladders, fall protection and walking-working surfaces that were added are expected to have even more of an impact on 2018’s list for top violations.
People who have been injured at their jobs due to workplace safety violations may be entitled to workers’ compensation. An attorney that practices workers’ compensation law may advise OSHA of the safety violations and assist clients with applying for benefits and appealing denied or insufficient award amounts.
