Page 11 - OHS, Nov/Dec 2023

3) Ladders Moving up from its FY 2022 placement on OSHA’s list is Ladders. In this year’s edition, Ladders racked up 2,978 violations, over 800 more than last year’s 2,143 violations. The top industry cited for these violations was, perhaps unsurprisingly, roofing contractors. The OSHA standard for ladders, 1926.1053, specifies proto- cols to ensure safety, including guidelines for various types of lad- ders. Ladders must not be loaded beyond their designated weight capacity, and the steps or rungs should be free of hazards. If a portable ladder has defects, it should be promptly removed and clearly marked to alert workers not to use it. OSHA’s safety protocols dictate workers should always face the ladder while as- cending or descending and maintain “at least one hand” on the ladder at all times. 2) Hazard Communication With a year-over-year increase of 789 violations, Hazard Com- munication (HazCom) holds onto the runner-up slot among the most frequently cited violations. In FY 2023, 3,213 violations were cited, meaning these citations came up in roughly 10 per- cent of all OSHA inspections. Standard 1910.1200 provides guidelines on hazard classifica- tion, establishing a HazCom program, proper labeling, worker training and managing trade secrets. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are mandatory where chemicals are used, produced or imported. SDSs offer detailed information on chemicals, including their hazards, first-aid measures and guidelines for storage and trans- portation. To remain in OSHA compliance, chemical manufac- turers need to update SDSs whenever chemicals change to pre- vent outdated data. 1) Fall Protection - General Requirements For the 13th year in a row, Fall Protection retains its dominance on OSHA’s list. While this accounted for 5,260 violations in FY 2022, OSHA cited 7,271 of these violations in FY 2023. Fall Pro- tection also had the most serious violations and most willful vio- lations during this period. OSHA outlines several key standards to address the various safety risks that can arise in the workplace. Some preventative actions employers can adopt include installing guards for holes, guardrails and toe-boards, and harnesses, safety nets or railings where fall hazards are present. OSHA mandates employers ensure work environments do not maintain any known dangers, keep work area floors as clean and dry as possible, provide necessary employees with no-cost PPE and make hazard training accessible to all. Yet, these violations continue to persist. Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety. He can be reached at ryaniz@1105media.com. Assure your operators and office personnel can safely and quickly escape to a safe location • Integral Blower with Automatic Actuation – dramatically improves protection levels and provides stress free breathing for all wearer fitness levels • Panoramic Field of View – aids safe escape • 30 Minutes of Protection – against toxic industrial chemicals and carbon monoxide • No Nosecup or Mouthbit – eases communication and user recognition • Single Size – reduces logistics burden For more information please scan the QR code wwUwn.toitlheds-o4nl1ine.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | Occupational Health9&/1S5/a2f3ety12:45 P1M1