
Resources
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Training
1. GHS Intro
7. GHS Training Signature Sheet
Razer Safety helps you eliminate hazards which could potentially cost you money. Falls pose the greatest threat for workplace accidents and OSHA citations.
Safety audits by periodic "mock" inspections will identify site hazards, unsafe
conditions and unsafe acts. By taking swift action, your facility will mitigate the hazard or
unsafe act and will lower the injury exposure and OSHA citation exposure.
Once hazards are identified, effective training in these areas will reduce accidents and OHSA
citations. Training is one of the first steps a company can take to avoid OSHA citations and
workplace accidents. Providing effective training will reduce hazard creation and exposure; plus
OSHA requires employers to train workers.
2020 OSHA's Top 10 Most Cited Violations
Itasca, IL – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2020. In an exclusive webinar with Safety+Health magazine on Feb. 26, Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the preliminary data, and Kevin Druley, Safety+Health associate editor, moderated the session.
Although multiple standards swapped positions, the Top 10 violations from FY 2019 to FY 2020 did not change. Ladders (1926.1053) climbed to a top-five spot, and Respiratory Protection (1910.134) rose to the third rank from fifth. Additionally, the data show that Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501) is OSHA’s most frequently cited standard for the 10th successive fiscal year.
“In a year that was defined by the ongoing pandemic, workplace safety became more important than ever,” said Lorraine M. Martin, NSC president and CEO. “The OSHA Top 10 list reminds us why we must continue to focus on persistent safety risks as we navigate new challenges. These data help us pinpoint areas where we can improve so we can better prioritize workplace safety in the future world of work.
The Top 10 for FY 2020 are:
- Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,424 violations
- Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 3,199
- Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,649
- Scaffolding (1926.451): 2,538
- Ladders (1926.1053): 2,129
- Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 2,065
- Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,932
- Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,621
- Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,369
- Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,313
If employers have hazards at the worksite that are on this list, they should review their
Since a lot of the frequent violations on this list relate to training, employers should also periodically audit their training records to make sure all employees have received appropriate training for the hazards they encounter in their daily jobs. Issues like machine guarding, periodic walk-arounds help to ensure all guards are in place or that missing guards are caught and corrected before an incident occurs."
Compliance can be a challenge for small and midsize businesses because they may not have a full-time safety professional on staff, but Razer Safety and Health can assist your company in filling in the gaps.
How to Avoid OSHA's "Fatal Four" Construction Hazards
In the construction industry, certain hazards are present every day on the job site.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry – known as OSHA’s “Fatal Four Hazards” or "Construction Focus Four Hazards".
The Fatal Four Hazards consist of falls, electrical exposure, struck-by and caught-in/between situations, and result in 545 worker fatalities in the United States every year.
Fall Hazards - Harness Inspection Guidelines https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/fy15_sh-27664-sh5_Lifeline_Harness_Inspection_Guide.pdf
Falls are the number one killer of construction workers on the job.
The different heights at which fall protection is required are:
- 6 feet - General fall protection
- 10 feet - Scaffolds
- 15 to 30 feet - Steel erection
If a worker is performing a job above one of the heights mentioned above, one of these systems must be in place:
- Guardrail Systems
- Covers
- Personal Fall Arrest (PFA) systems
Make sure to identify fall hazards such as holes in platforms and unguarded edges before work begins.
Electrocutions
One of the top ten most cited OSHA standards; electrocutions are the second deadliest fatal four construction hazard. That’s why OSHA has a specific regulatory standard for safety training and electrical work.
Here are some safe work practices for live electrical work on the jobsite:
- Locate and identify utilities before starting work.
- Look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment.
- Maintain a safe distance away from power lines.
- Do not operate portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double insulated.
- Use ground-fault surge protectors.
- Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms.
Struck-By Object/Hazard
A struck-by hazard is anything at a worksite that could produce injuries by forcible contact or impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment.
The difficulty with protecting workers from flying objects is that they may not be participating in the work that causes the object to fly.
Workers need to make sure coworkers follow the safety rules outlined by OSHA and the employer, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the worksite.
There are four Struck-by hazard categories:
- Flying object
- Falling object
- Swinging object
- Rolling object
OSHA requires employers to protect workers from struck-by hazards. Employers are required to:
- Meet all heavy equipment, motor vehicle, and general requirements included in: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1911/1911.10 Construction Standards
- Provide proper PPE, like wearing high-visibility clothes near equipment/vehicles.
- Provide required training for equipment and vehicles
- Ensure qualification of operators, riggers, signal persons, and competent persons
Caught-in/Between
Trench and excavation cave-ins, and workplace accidents where workers are pinned or caught-between machinery or fixed structures, often happen suddenly and without warning.
To avoid being caught in or between objects:
- Never enter an unprotected trench 5 feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place
- Make sure the trench or excavation is protected either by sloping, shoring, benching or trench shield systems.
Data & Statistics from OSHA https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html
- Establishment Search is a query tool which locates OSHA inspections which were conducted within a particular establishment
- Search Inspections By NAICS is a query tool which locates OSHA inspections which were conducted within a particular industry group
- Inspection Information enables access to information about an inspection when the activity number identifying the inspection is known
- High Penalties by state lists all enforcement cases with initial penalties of $40,000 or more, by state, starting January 2015
- Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Search enables the user to search the text of the Accident Investigation Summaries (OSHA-170 form) which result from OSHA accident inspections.
- General Duty Standard Search enables the user to search the text associated with 5a1 standards cited during OSHA inspections.
- Frequently Cited OSHA Standards is a query tool which allows the user to determine the most frequently cited Federal and State OSHA standards for a given NAICS code. The NAICS code may be determined by accessing the online NAICS Manual
- SIC Search - Provides the ability to search the alphabetic index of the 1987 version manual by keywords; access detailed information for a specified SIC, Division, or Major Group
- SIC Manual - Access detailed information for a specified SIC, Division, or Major Group; and browse through the manual structure
- NAICS Manual - The North American Industry Classification System, a 6-digit industry grouping system developed in cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
- Industry Profile for an OSHA Standard displays the industry NAICS codes in which a specified Federal OSHA standard is most often cited. Information is shown at the NAICS sector and 3,4,5 - digit NAICS levels.
Industrial Hygiene Air Sampling Data
OSHA Data Initiative
Statistics
- Commonly Used Statistics
- DOL Enforcement Website
- BLS Work Related Injury/Illness Statistics
- Workplace Injury, Illness and Fatality Statistics
- FedStats - The gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies.
- Manufacturing Industry Statistics
OSHA has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and National
Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) - Construction Sector on this nationwide outreach campaign
to raise awareness among workers and employers about common fall hazards in construction, and
how falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented and lives can be saved.
Here's how: Plan, Provide, And Train
OHSA Stop Falls: https://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/#plan
More links for OSHA and Fall Protection Assistance:
OSHA Fall Protection SubpartSafety Training
OSHA etools for Fall Protection
CDC Fall Injuries Prevention In The Workplace
NIOSH Ladder Safety app for mobile devices
