Top Ten OSHA Violations for Fiscal Year 2021

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released their Top Ten OSHA Violations list for Fiscal Year 2021. This annual list highlights the top ten most frequently cited OSHA standards over the fiscal year. OSHA compiles the list following inspections of worksites across all industries. Accordingly, OSHA publishes the list to alert employers about these common OSHA violations. That way, employers may take steps to find and correct recognized hazards that these standards cover. OSHA relies on results from inspections and reported injury and illness data from several industries. Undoubtedly, public access to such data on specific industries and companies lets employers and workers better understand workplace safety. However, some employers may fail to submit annual injury and illness data. To rectify this problem, on April 5th, 2022, OSHA announced an enforcement program to track failures to submit injury and illness data.

Top Ten OSHA Violations for FY 2021

The annual top ten OSHA violations list makes public the ten most common violations from the previous fiscal year. OSHA’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. In effect, this list helps employers in every industry recognize and fix OSHA workplace hazards in their own company, ahead of inspections. This kind of proactive approach to mitigating workplace hazards shows good-faith compliance with federal OSHA laws. Most importantly, the approach helps protect employees and others from workplace injury and illness. Thus, to better recognize hazards and help prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths, employer should review the following top ten OSHA violations from fiscal year 2021:

1. Fall Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Respiratory Protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
3. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
4. Hazard Communication, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
5. Scaffolding, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
6. Fall Protection Training, construction (29 CFR 1926.503)
7. Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
8. Eye and Face Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.102)
9. Powered Industrial Trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
10. Machinery and Machine Guarding, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)

2021 Top Ten OSHA Violations List Takeaways

As expected, OSHA’s standard for fall protection remains the number one cited violation in the workplace. Specifically, the fall protection standard sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall protection systems. Meanwhile, remaining among the top five OSHA violations, from fiscal year 2020’s list, are respiratory protection, ladders, scaffolding, and hazard communication.

Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention Training Program for Employees

Evidently, slips, trips, and falls account for the majority of preventable lost workday accidents in the U.S. Violations to fall protection training requirements frequently are among the year’s top ten cited standards. OSHA’s Walking & Working Surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910, Subpart D) imposes requirements for employers to prevent slip, trip, and fall injuries in the workplace. In general, it addresses hazards including improper housekeeping, wet floors, work performed on elevated surfaces, and obstructed aisleways. Therefore, to help employers train their workforce on slip, trip, and fall prevention, Personnel Concepts created the Slips, Trips, and Falls Prevention Training Program for Employees. The interactive employee training module covers OSHA’s Walking & Working Surfaces standard and common hazards. In addition, it provides practical tips on recognizing, avoiding, and fixing slip, trip, and fall hazards in the workplace.