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Top Ten Safety Violations for 2009, Reports OHSA

OSHA reveals the preliminary top ten most frequent workplace safety violations for the year of 2009 in a presentation at NSC’s annual Congress & Expo. There has been increment in the number of top ten violations almost 30% from the year 2008.

“We appreciate our colleagues at OSHA presenting their violation data to such a receptive audience,” said Janet Froetscher, National Safety Council President and CEO. “The sheer number of violations gives us new resolve in raising awareness about the importance of having sound safety procedure.”

Given below are the workplace violations in 2009:

1. Scaffolding-9,093 violations: Scaffold accidents are mostly due to the planking or support giving way, or from the employer who is slipping or is being struck by a falling object.

2. Fall Protection-6,771 violations: Whenever a worker is at a height of four feet or more, the worker is at risks and his protection is needed. Fall protection is a must to be provided at four feet in general industry, and construction industry should be six feet

3. Hazard Communication-6,378 violations: Manufactures of chemicals and the importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they import or produce and also prepare labels and safety data sheet to provide the information to their downstream customers.

4. Respiratory Protection-3,803 violations: Respirators protect the workers from oxygen environments, fogs, harmful dusts, gases, smokes, sprays and vapors. These hazards may cause cancer and other diseases or even death.

5. Lockout-Tag out-3,321 violations: It refers to a specific procedures and practices to safeguard the employees from unexpected start up of machinery and equipment, or from the release of hazardous energy at the time of service or maintenance activities.

6. Electrical (Wiring)-3,079 violations: Work those include electricity can be dangerous. Electricians, engineers and other professionals work with electricity and others such as sales people, office workers who work indirectly with the electricity may also be exposed to electrical hazards.

7. Ladders-3,072 violations: The U.S Department of Labor lists fall as one major causes of traumatic occupational death. It accounts 8% of all the occupational fatalities from trauma.

8. Powered Industrial Trucks - 2,993 violations: Every year, many injuries related to powered industrial trucks (PIT), or forklifts, occur in U.S. workplaces.

9. Electrical (general) - 2,556 violations

10. Machine Guarding - 2,364 violations: When there is an operation of a machine or any type of accidental contact injures the operator or others close by, then hazards must be eliminated or controlled.

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