How to Keep Workers Focused on Safety

As 2017 comes to an end, let’s look at the list of OSHA Top 10 violations to strive for a safer 2018!

In high-hazard industries like the utility, mining, and construction – workers are often “drifting” along in their work, too busy to focus on safety. Job demands such as time pressures, high-priority work, shift work, and physical stresses can hinder a
safety first mentality. And every September, the OSHA Top 10 Violations reveals this is true for many industries. 

The Top 10 OSHA violations of 2017 didn’t change much from previous years – however, something new was added to the list. Number nine on the OSHA Top 10 violations was fall protection – training requirements. 

1,523 OSHA violations were issued in 2017 for failure to provide workers with fall protection – training requirements.

The entire list of the top most frequently citied standards in 2017 is:

1. Fall protection, construction –
29 CFR 1926.501

2. Hazard communication standard, general industry –
29 CFR 1910.1200

3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction –
29 CFR 1926.451

4. Respiratory protection, general industry –
29 CFR 1910.134

5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/
tagout
), general industry –
29 CFR 1910.147

6. Ladders, construction –
29 CFR 1926.1053

7. Powered industrial trucks, general industry –
29 CFR 1910.178

8. Machines, general requirements, general industry –
29 CFR 1910.212

9. Fall Protection, training requirements  –
29 CFR 1926.503

10. Electrical, wiring methods, components
and
equipment, general industry –
29 CFR 1910.305

To prevent injuries – even death – and costly OSHA fines, safety directors might ask the best ways to keep safety at the forefront. Consider the OSHA violations in 2017 as something you can learn from so 2018 is a safer year.

Reel in your employees with effective visual identification and a strong safety culture. Maybe for you and your employees that means talking about the message on the sign, tag, or label to make sure the information makes sense to them. Is the safety message clear and concise? Is the sign or label in the location of the hazard? What can be done to eliminate the hazard or hazards? Don’t let the visual society we live in create challenges for your safety messages.

Place safety at the center of your workplace and ensure all workers are provided with the proper training prior to performing work.

For the most effective safety identification products, consider Safetycal, your one-stop-shop!  
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