OSHA Violations
Fall Protection
One of the most common violations of OSHA standards is improper protection from falls. Employers are required to secure workers from falls by introducing safety nets or guardrails and training them. In reality, however, these requirements are frequently not followed: as a result, fall protection equipment is used inadequately, or the edges of the construction site are not protected enough, creating safety hazards.
Chemical Labeling
Another typical violation is the lack of adequate labeling of the chemicals that employees have to work with. In many cases, chemicals can be a hazard to health or even life; for this reason, employers must notify the workers of the risk that these substances can lead to. Proper equipment labeling and safety data instructions must be available to all employees at all times, which in many situations, however, does not happen.
Safety Breaches
Breaches of safety requirements can also be in place when machine guards are missing or inadequate. As it has been established by OSHA, it is essential that employers do not allow machines’ contact with anything that can lead to injuries to the workers. Machines with moving parts can pose serious injury risks; therefore, strict control is necessary. Often, employers fail to conduct regular safety inspections or do not provide proper training to employees.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection rules are also often violated, particularly for workplaces with airborne hazards. When a workspace has a risk of this kind, the employer must provide proper respiratory protection equipment and have a program of protection. There is often a lack of respirators in the workplace, due to the employers hoping that no dangerous situation will occur. In some cases, even though there are some respirators in the workplace, there are either not enough of them for the number of employees that work there, or the employees are not aware of their existence.
Electrical Wiring Exposure
Electrical violations are some of the most frequent violations of safety standards as well. The rules state that the electrical wiring in the workplace must be adequate, and employees must use appropriate personal protective equipment. Electrical hazards are highly dangerous and can lead to fires, shocks, or even electrocution in the worst-case scenario. When the wires are exposed, electrical maintenance is not executed properly or protective devices are not used, workers’ health and lives are endangered.
OSHA Inspections
One OSHA inspection that led to a 5(a)(1) citation was an inspection of a construction site. After inspecting it, Osha found that the employees were working on a multi-story building without proper protection from falls. The inspectors observed unprotected edges, open shafts, and inadequate safety measures overall. A citation was issued as a result of a serious violation due to the employer putting worker safety at risk. The employer was required to address all the infringements that were detected in the shortest period of time possible and implement a full protection program.
The inspection team also issued a citation for a chemical factory for the employer that did not train his employees on the hazardous chemicals and did not update his data sheets regularly. The inspection found that the sheets had not been updated for years, and the presented information was not only outdated but was not presented in a proper way. The workers were also not aware of how to deal with the substances in risky situations. The necessary actions were for the employer to make all the necessary updates and plan a complete training session for the staff.