SAFETY SOLUTIONS: OSHA Annouces 2021 Top 10 Frequently Cited Standards
Recently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its preliminary top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2021. While several standards have swapped positions, the 2021 list did not see any new entries. It also marks the eleventh successive fiscal year that Fall Protection has topped the list.

Preliminary numbers were announced earlier this year, but the finalized list with official numbers was delayed. The delay was ultimately due to the COVID-19 pandemic slowing down the agency’s process – a struggle familiar to most business owners operating in the past year.

Fall Protection (1926.501) remains at the top of the list for the 11th year in a row, followed by Respiratory Protection (1910.134) and Ladders (1926.1053). Hazard Communication, which spent the last several years at No. 2, moved to the fifth spot on this year’s list.

“Throughout the pandemic workplace safety has become more important than ever,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “Although incredible advancements are made in safety each year, the OSHA Top 10 list reminds us that we must continue to pinpoint areas where we can improve so we can better prioritize workplace safety in the future world of work.”

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for FY 2021 are:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295 violations
2. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527
3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026
4. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948
5. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947
6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698
7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,666
8. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,452
9. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,420
10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,113

Even though these numbers seem low, let’s not forget that the OSHA and State OSHA agencies are usually small in nature and do not have a large staff of compliance officers staffing these offices. Because theOSHA has authority to inspect more than six million workplaces, with approximately 900 compliance officers, OSHA has established a system of inspection priorities that are designed to ensure that maximum feasible protection is provided, and the worst situations are inspected first.

Top priority in OSHA's system for conducting inspections is responding to reports of imminent danger situations. Second priority is given to investigation of fatalities and catastrophes and all employers are required to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye. A fatality must be reported within 8 hours. An inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be reported within 24 hours. Third priority is given to employee complaints of alleged violation of standards or of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions.

Next in priority are programmed, or planned, inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries or occupations. Industries are selected for inspection on the basis of factors such as the death, injury and illness incidence rate, and employee exposure to toxic substances. Special emphasis may be local or national in scope, depending on the distribution of the workplaces involved. States with OSHA approved occupational safety and health programs may use somewhat different systems to identify highhazard industries for inspection within their states.

In addition to the initial inspection, OSHA's compliance officers must also conduct follow-up and monitoring inspections to ensure that hazards are being corrected and employees are being protected. Therefore, as you can see, OSHA's priority system for conducting inspections is designed to distribute available OSHA resources as effectively as possible to protect the working men and women of this country.

With my forty-seven years as a Certified Safety, Health & Environmental Expert, do you think if I came into your facility that I would find you were probably out of compliance with safety, health or environmental laws and regulations? My guess is yes. Take a look at the Podojil & Associates’ website at www.podojilconsulting.com and see who my long list of clients are; many of whom I am still helping today.

I have been writing for Plastic Distributor & Fabricator Magazine since December 1999. I have recently turned 75 and as I look back over the many years, I hope many of my “Safety Solutions” have helped make your workplace safer. As always if you have questions or if we can be of any help, my staff and I are ready to assist.

For more information, click on the author biography at the top of the page.